"Hadfield’s John Donne: In the Shadow of Religion is not a biography, but a portrait of Donne through his works and times. It is gorgeously produced, with glossy pages and ample color images of portraits, manuscripts, maps, monuments, and frescoes. . . . Its six themed chapters, elegantly and clearly written, will appeal to those immersed in Donne as well as those who know only a handful of lyrics."

Times Literary Supplement

"Hadfield evidently has wide knowledge of the period."

John Carey | Sunday Times

"The book is an effective . . . introduction to Donne for the general reader, and is praiseworthy for its focus on religion as a formative and crucial element in Donne’s life and the lives of the vast majority of his contemporaries."

Peter Davidson | Heythrop Journal

"Hadfield's book is a delightful read for anyone wishing a concise but detailed discussion of Donne's life and thinking. . . it must be added that the book is visually very pleasing. The paper of the printed book is of high quality, the typeset agreeable to the eye, and the images clear and sharp, many rendered in beautiful color. The book serves well as an illustrated overview, and it is a welcome addition to the discussion about Donne's religious thinking, especially for students and readers of Donne who want to move beyond general introductions and get to know the poet on a deeper level."

Renaissance Quarterly

“The great achievement of Hadfield’s book, and what sets it apart, is how convincingly it connects the seemingly disparate strands of Donne’s life and work—his lifelong struggle with matters of the soul, his paradoxical erotic and religious poetry, his marriage, his friendships, his sermons—allowing us to see above all Donne the brilliant and restless thinker.”

James Shapiro, author of "1599: A Year in the Life of William Shakespeare"

“Hadfield’s exemplary study of John Donne—a notoriously ‘difficult’ writer—is lucid and informative, yet always ready to probe towards new interpretations. Exploring lesser-known corners of Donne’s extensive output, he celebrates the ‘capacious and interconnected’ imagination of this complex, charismatic figure.”

Charles Nicholl, author of “The Lodger: Shakespeare on Silver Street”