John Donne (1572?1631) was an English poet, satirist, lawyer, and priest famous for his spellbinding sermons. 

Christopher Ricks is the William M. and Sara B. Warren Professor of the Humanities and codirector of the Editorial Institute at Boston University. 

Ilona Bell is a professor of English literature at Williams College, Massachusetts. She has published widely on Renaissance literature and is the author of several books on Donne, his courtship, and his love poetry.