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Sonnets

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( 24 ratings, 3 reviews)
Book Hero Magic crafted this summary to help describe this book. While it's new and still learning, it may not be perfect - your feedback is welcome! Summary
Sonnets by William Shakespeare is a collection of 154 poems that explore themes of love, beauty, time, and mortality. They delve into the poet's intense emotions, exploring romantic desire, the transience of life, and the eternal power of art. Each sonnet presents a unique reflection, capturing the complexity of human experiences with exquisite linguistic mastery.
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Format: Paperback / softback
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Book Hero Magic created this recommendation. While it's new and still learning, it may not be perfect - your feedback is welcome! IS THIS YOUR NEXT READ?

You might enjoy this collection if you appreciate exploring the depth of human emotions and the beauty of language. It offers a rich tapestry of themes such as love, time, beauty, and mortality, all expressed with Shakespeare's unparalleled lyrical mastery. If you delight in classic poetry and the timeless exploration of the human condition, this book will surely captivate you.

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Book Hero Magic formatted this description to make it easier to read. While it's new and still learning, it may not be perfect - your feedback is welcome! Description

Sonnets by William Shakespeare offers the complete collection of the bard's renowned poems in one beautiful edition.

Love sonnets are ideal for romantics, starry-eyed lovers, and ardent hearts. Shakespeare's sonnets are arguably the finest ever written. However, they also appeal to cynics, star-crossed lovers, and those familiar with the pain of unrequited love.

Some sonnets seem addressed to a young man, others to a woman. Despite the mystery surrounding themโ€”why did Shakespeare write them, and to whom?โ€”each poem communicates across the centuries about love, hate, and the intensity of being alive.

Introduced by Andrew McMillan, this edition provides insights and context for these timeless poems.

'This is a crazy, all-consuming, feverish and sweaty love; love, in all its uncut, full-strength intensity; an adolescent love' โ€” Don Paterson, Guardian

Series: Vintage Classics Love Poems

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  • Sonnets
    Sonnets by William Shakespeare offers the complete collection of the bard's renowned poems in one beautiful edition. Love sonnets are ideal for romantics, starry-eyed lovers, and ardent hearts. Shakespeare's sonnets are arguably the finest ever written. However, they also appeal to cynics, star-crossed lovers, and those familiar with the pain of unrequited love. Some sonnets seem addressed to a young...
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Book Hero Magic summarised reviews for this book. While it's new and still learning, it may not be perfect - your feedback is welcome! HOW HAS THIS BEEN REVIEWED?

Renowned for their profound beauty and depth, Sonnets by William Shakespeare have been celebrated by literary giants and critics alike. Charles Dickens praises Shakespeare's unparalleled knowledge and delight, while the Independent highlights the timeless reinvention and haunting presence of his work across eras. Peter Ackroyd and T.S. Eliot commend Shakespeare's genius, placing him alongside figures like Dante. Alexander Pope admires the vivid individuality Shakespeare imparts to his characters, paralleling real life.

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Book Details

INFORMATION

ISBN: 9781784878238

Publisher: Vintage Publishing

Format: Paperback / softback

Date Published: 19 January 2023

Country: United Kingdom

Imprint: Vintage Classics

Contributors:

  • Introduction by Andrew McMillan

Audience: General / adult

DIMENSIONS

Spine width: 13.0mm

Width: 130.0mm

Height: 178.0mm

Weight: 137g

Pages: 176

About the Author

William Shakespeare (Author) William Shakespeare was born in Stratford-upon-Avon in Warwickshire, and was baptised on 26 April 1564. His father was a glove maker and wool merchant and his mother, Mary Arden, was the daughter of a well-to-do local land owner. Shakespeare was probably educated in Stratford's grammar school. In 1582 he married Anne Hathaway, and the couple had a daughter the following year and twins in 1585. Shakespeare's theatrical life seems to have commenced around 1590. We do know that he was part of the Lord Chamberlain's Company, which was renamed the King's Company in 1603 when James I succeeded to the throne. The Company acquired interests in two theatres in the Southwark area of London, near the banks of the Thames - the Globe and the Blackfriars. Shakespeare's poetry was published before his plays, with two poems appearing in 1593 and 1594, dedicated to his patron Henry Wriothesley, Earl of Southampton. Most of Shakespeare's sonnets were probably written at this time as well. Records of Shakespeare's plays begin to appear in 1594, and he produced roughly two a year until around 1611. His earliest plays include Henry VI and Titus Andronicus. A Midsummer Night's Dream, The Merchant of Venice and Richard II all date from the mid to late 1590s. Some of his most famous tragedies were written in the early 1600s; these include Hamlet, Othello, King Lear, Macbeth and Antony & Cleopatra. His late plays, often known as the Romances, date from 1608 onwards and include The Tempest. Shakespeare died on 23 April 1616 and was buried in Holy Trinity Church in Stratford. The first collected edition of his works was published in 1623 and is known as 'the First Folio'. Andrew McMillan (Introducer) Andrew McMillan's first collection, physical, was the first poetry collection to win the Guardian First Book Award; it also won a Somerset Maugham Award, an Eric Gregory Award, a Northern Writers' Award and the Aldeburgh First Collection Prize. His second collection, playtime, won the inaugural Polari Prize, and his most recent collection is pandemonium. His debut novel, Pity, was published by Canongate in 2024. McMillan is a Senior Lecturer at the Manchester Writing School at Manchester Metropolitan University and a Fellow of the Royal Society of Literature.

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