Super-Infinite : The Transformations of John Donne - Winner of the Baillie Gifford Prize for Non-Fiction 2022

Katherine Rundell's "Super-Infinite: The Transformations of John Donne" is a critically acclaimed biography that delves into the multifaceted life of the renowned poet and cleric, John Donne. Garnering accolades such as a Sunday Times top ten bestseller, and shortlisted for prestigious literary awards like the Sunday Times Young Writer of the Year Award 2023, the Duff Cooper Prize for Non-Fiction 2023, and the Slightly Foxed First Biography Prize 2023, this book has captivated readers and critics alike.

With masterful storytelling and meticulous research, Rundell unveils the complexities of Donne's existence, which defied singular categorization. From his beginnings as a religious outsider and social outcast, to his later years as a celebrated preacher and establishment figure, Donne's journey is portrayed as a tapestry of contrasts. He was a scholar of law, a seafaring adventurer, a member of parliament, a priest, and the Dean of St Paul's Cathedral – all while being hailed as one of the greatest love poets in the history of the English language.

Rundell's narrative skillfully interweaves Donne's obsessions, his blazing words, and the tempestuous Elizabethan era in which he lived, presenting a multidimensional portrait of a remarkable mind. "Super-Infinite" is not merely a biography but a lesson in living, inviting readers to explore the depths of Donne's extraordinary life and the transformations that shaped his enduring legacy.