1
of
1
The Sonnets
Series: Arcturus Shakespeare Editions
Brief Description
First published in 1609, Shakespeare's Sonnets are considered some of the most beautiful poems in the English language. They include famous lines which evoke joy and tenderness, such as 'Shall I compare thee to a summer's day' or 'To me, fair friend, you can never be...
Read More
Format: Paperback / softback
$2199
Unit price
/
Unavailable
AVAILABLE WITH SUPPLIER
Ships from our Auckland warehouse within 1 week
Found a better price? Request a price match
The Sonnets
$2199
Unit price
/
Unavailable
Latest News
Jon Toogood visits Book Hero
We were so honoured to have Aotearoa's own royal rock legend Jon Toogood visit Book...
New Hero Alert! Meet Liam - our new Bookstore Hero
We’re thrilled to welcome Liam to the Book Hero team! You’ll find him in our...
Celebrating Bird of the Year 2026 with Bird Books
Today I've got a couple of INCREDIBLE bird books as well as a reading list...
Amelia's Favourite Puzzle Vibe: What Makes a Puzzle Cosy?
What makes a puzzle feel cosy? Amelia shares her favourite puzzle vibe, from bookshops and...
The Book Briefing: 23rd September
Another busy day in the reading world with new book announcements and reveals, events happening...
See more
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
First published in 1609, Shakespeare's Sonnets are considered some of the most beautiful poems in the English language. They include famous lines which evoke joy and tenderness, such as 'Shall I compare thee to a summer's day' or 'To me, fair friend, you can never be old', while other lines express deep passion and desire.
Whether addressed to the Fair Youth, the Rival Poet, or the Dark Lady, these sonnets' universal themes of love, death, and the passage of time hold a meaning for everyone, and it is unsurprising that they have been translated into every major written language.
This edition is based on the First Folio and includes an extensive introduction by Chris McNab that examines the origins of the work, the plot, and the characters as well as notes on the text, a glossary, and a timeline of Shakespeare's life and work.
ABOUT THE SERIES: The Arcturus Shakespeare Editions series brings together many of Shakespeare's celebrated plays and poetry, presented with striking contemporary cover designs. Each edition is based on the First Folio and includes an informative introduction, glossary, and timeline.
Series: Arcturus Shakespeare Editions
View all-
Romeo and Juliet
But soft, what light through yonder window breaks? It is the East, and Juliet is the sun. Written between 1591 and 1595, Romeo and Juliet is one of Shakespeare's greatest and most popular plays. Set in Verona, Italy, it has been performed across the world and inspired numerous other artistic works—from music to ballet and film—as well as entertaining countless...Paperback$1699Unit price /UnavailableAvailableShips in 1 week -
The Sonnets
First published in 1609, Shakespeare's Sonnets are considered some of the most beautiful poems in the English language. They include famous lines which evoke joy and tenderness, such as 'Shall I compare thee to a summer's day' or 'To me, fair friend, you can never be old', while other lines express deep passion and desire. Whether addressed to the Fair...Paperback$2199Unit price /UnavailableAvailableShips in 1 week
Book Details
INFORMATION
ISBN: 9781398854130
Publisher: Arcturus Publishing Ltd
Format: Paperback / softback
Date Published: 01 August 2025
Country: United Kingdom
Imprint: Arcturus
Illustration: Paperback
Contributors:
- Introduction by Chris McNab
Audience: General / adult
DIMENSIONS
Spine width: 10.0mm
Width: 129.0mm
Height: 198.0mm
Weight: 127g
Pages: 160
About the Author
William Shakespeare was born in Stratford-upon-Avon in 1564 and attended school in the town. He married a local girl, Ann Hathaway and they had three children. Shakespeare eventually found his way to London where he established himself as part of a theatrical troupe, also writing plays for them to perform. His life and career spanned the reigns of Elizabeth I and James I (VI of Scotland) before his death in 1616.
Chris McNab is an author and editor who has written more than 100 titles, on topics ranging from history to popular culture to biography. He holds a Ph.D in English Literature and Theology and some of his recent titles include A History of War, Jeff Bezos and J. Robert Oppenheimer. He has also written several scholarly introductions to Shakespeare's plays, including Julius Caesar and Much Ado About Nothing. In addition to his writing work, Chris has made regular contributions on radio and television.
Also by William Shakespeare
View all-
The Complete Works of William Shakespeare
Celebrate the genius, passion, and poetry of William Shakespeare with this beautifully bound deluxe edition, featuring his complete plays and poems in one timeless collector's volume. No writer has shaped the English language or the human imagination like William Shakespeare. From the unforgettable tragedies of Hamlet and Macbeth to the wit and romance of A Midsummer Night's Dream and Much...Hardback$3299Unit price /UnavailableIn StockShips today -
The Complete Works of William Shakespeare
'I would challenge you to a battle of wits, but I see you are unarmed.' - William Shakespeare Arm yourself with this volume from the Knickerbocker Classics series, The Complete Works of William Shakespeare, including 16 comedies, 10 histories, 12 tragedies, and all the poems and sonnets of the world's most influential writer. This collection includes poems and plays that...Hardback$6500Unit price /UnavailableIn StockShips today -
Twelfth Night
Part of the authoritative and acclaimed Penguin Shakespeare series, now rejacketed in the celebrated Penguin Classics livery. Separated from her twin brother Sebastian after a shipwreck, Viola disguises herself as a boy to serve the Duke of Illyria. Wooing a countess on his behalf, she is stunned to find herself the object of his beloved's affections. With the arrival of...Paperback$1900Elsewhere:$2100Unit price /UnavailableIn StockShips today -
Macbeth
Part of the authoritative and acclaimed Penguin Shakespeare series, now rejacketed in the celebrated Penguin Classics livery. Promised a golden future as ruler of Scotland by three sinister witches, Macbeth murders the king to ensure his ambitions come true. But he soon learns the meaning of terror – killing once, he must kill again and again, and the dead return...Paperback$2100Unit price /UnavailableIn StockShips today -
Macbeth
HarperCollins is proud to present its new range of best-loved, essential classics. Stars, hide your fires! Let not light see my black and deep desires. One of Shakespeare's darkest and most violent tragedies, Macbeth's struggle between his own ambition and his loyalty to the King is dramatically compelling. As those he kills return to haunt him, Macbeth is plagued by...Paperback$1299Unit price /UnavailableIn StockShips today -
A Midsummer Night's Dream
A Midsummer Night's Dream is part of the new Puffin Classics collection entitled STAGED, which features timeless tropes and enduring stories. 'The course of true love never did run smooth ...' Hermia loves Lysander. But she must marry Demetrius or be condemned to life in a convent. Together, they plan to elope to escape their fate. However, Helena, Hermia's best...Paperback$2300Unit price /UnavailableIn StockShips today -
Antony and Cleopatra
Part of the authoritative and acclaimed Penguin Shakespeare series, now rejacketed in the celebrated Penguin Classics livery. A battle-hardened soldier, Antony is one of the three leaders of the Roman world. But he is also a man in the grip of an all-consuming passion for the exotic and tempestuous queen of Egypt. And when their life of pleasure together is...Paperback$2300Unit price /UnavailableIn StockShips today -
Measure for Measure
Part of the authoritative and acclaimed Penguin Shakespeare series, now rejacketed in the celebrated Penguin Classics livery. In the Duke's absence from Vienna, his strict deputy Angelo revives an ancient law forbidding sex outside marriage. The young Claudio, whose fiancée is pregnant, is condemned to death by the law. His sister Isabella, soon to become a nun, pleads with Lord...Paperback$2999Unit price /UnavailableIn StockShips today -
A Midsummer Night's Dream
Part of the authoritative and acclaimed Penguin Shakespeare series, now rejacketed in the celebrated Penguin Classics livery. A young woman flees Athens with her lover, only to be pursued by her would-be husband and by her best friend. Unwittingly, all four find themselves in an enchanted forest where fairies and sprites soon take an interest in human affairs, dispensing magical...Paperback$1900Elsewhere:$2100Unit price /UnavailableIn StockShips today -
Romeo and Juliet
Part of the authoritative and acclaimed Penguin Shakespeare series, now rejacketed in the celebrated Penguin Classics livery. A young man and woman meet by chance and fall instantly in love. But their families are bitter enemies, and in order to be together, the two lovers must be prepared to risk everything. Set in a city torn apart by feuds and...Paperback$2100Elsewhere:$2300Unit price /UnavailableIn StockShips today -
Pre-orderOthello
STAGED: Timeless tropes, enduring stories - a Shakespeare collection for YA readers Farewell the tranquil mind; farewell content. Rediscover Shakespeare's tale of jealousy and miscommunication. Jealousy is a hell of a drug. After being passed over for promotion, the envious flag-bearer Iago begins a vicious campaign of whispers against his leader, the famed Black Venetian General, Othello. As Iago's manipulation...Paperback$2400Unit price /UnavailableOut 17 Nov 2026Pre-order -
Sonnets
A beautiful deluxe gift edition of Sonnets by Shakespeare's immortal poems with foiled covers, marbled endpapers, sprayed edges, beautiful paper, and finished with a silk ribbon. Love sonnets are for romantics, starry-eyed lovers, and ardent hearts. And Shakespeare's sonnets are the best ever written. But this is why they are also for cynics, for star-crossed lovers and for those who...Hardback$3499Elsewhere:$4500Unit price /UnavailableIn StockShips today
More from Arts & Culture
View all-
Dylan's PickBold Types
A tribute to 32 truly independent bookshops throughout Aotearoa New Zealand, from north of Auckland down to Dunedin, and coast to coast. Jane Ussher's photographs show every bookstore in its unique nature - including behind the counter, smoko rooms, the mess which tells the hardworking story behind the joy of matching books with customers. Jemma Moreira's careful editing has crafted...Hardback$5999Elsewhere:$7000Unit price /UnavailableIn StockShips today -
Home Again
Join rock-legend, former Shihad frontman and lead singer of The Adults, Jon Toogood in this unflinching and no-holds-barred memoir Home Again.This is more than a rock story. Toogood looks back on a 37-year career that helped define New Zealand rock music, and the personal cost that came with it. From a music-obsessed childhood in Wellington to the deafening roar of international stages, this...Paperback$3199Elsewhere:$3999Unit price /UnavailableIn StockShips today -
The Odyssey
Composed at the rosy-fingered dawn of world literature almost three millennia ago, The Odyssey is a poem about violence and the aftermath of war; about wealth, poverty and power; about marriage and family; about travellers, hospitality, and the yearning for home. This fresh, authoritative translation captures the beauty of this ancient poem as well as the drama of its narrative....Paperback$2999Elsewhere:$3599Unit price /UnavailableIn StockShips today -
The Iliad
When Emily Wilson's translation of The Odyssey appeared in 2017—revealing the ancient poem in a contemporary idiom that was "fresh, unpretentious and lean" (Madeline Miller, Washington Post)—critics lauded it as "a revelation" (Susan Chira, New York Times) and "a cultural landmark" (Charlotte Higgins, Guardian) that would forever change how Homer is read in English. Now Wilson has returned with an...Paperback$3299Elsewhere:$3799Unit price /UnavailableIn StockShips today -
Disney Moana: The Official Cookbook
Embark on a culinary adventure with Moana of Motunui with Pacific recipes inspired by Moana and Moana 2! After a long day of sailing to see how far you’ll go or keeping the demigod Maui out of trouble with Te Fiti, catch a break with the delicious dishes in Moana: The Official Cookbook! Featuring more than 50 recipes spanning the...Hardback$4499Elsewhere:$5299Unit price /UnavailableIn StockShips today -
This Angry Pen of Mine
This Angry Pen of Mine by Layne Staley invites you to dive into the untold creative world of Layne Staley, the legendary voice behind Alice in Chains. This extraordinary collection showcases his handwritten lyrics, deeply personal poetry, stunning original artwork, rare photos, fan tributes, and so much more. Step into the world of Layne Staley like never before. For the...Hardback$7299Elsewhere:$8999Unit price /UnavailableIn StockShips today -
Did I Ever Tell You This?
In this unexpected memoir, written in a creative burst of just a few months in 2022, Sam Neill tells the story of how he became one of the world’s most celebrated actors, who has worked with everyone from Meryl Streep to Isabel Adjani, from Jeff Goldblum to Sean Connery, from Steven Spielberg to Jane Campion. By his own account, his...Paperback$3799Elsewhere:$4500Unit price /UnavailableIn StockShips today -
They Bloom Because of You
Bestselling author and Instagram sensation Jessica Urlichs returns with a new collection of beautifully observed poems about the ever-evolving journey of motherhood - the hard, the magic and the fleeting. ‘A raw and honest read that makes you feel seen and understood in a way that will bring you to tears.’ - Hilary Swank ‘A book to keep close and...Paperback$3000Elsewhere:$3600Unit price /UnavailableIn StockShips today -
The Odyssey
The Odyssey by Homer is a monumental epic that has enthralled readers for centuries with its rich tapestry of adventure and human struggle. It chronicles the perilous journey of Odysseus, the cunning King of Ithaca, as he strives to return home after the fall of Troy. During this ten-year odyssey, Odysseus confronts myriad dangers, both natural and supernatural, that test...Paperback$2499Elsewhere:$2800Unit price /UnavailableIn StockShips today -
Leaves of Grass
A collectible new Penguin Classics series offers beautiful, slim, clothbound editions of ten favourite poets. In 1855, Walt Whitman published his first collection of poetry, Leaves of Grass. The volume received great praise from leading Transcendentalist poet Ralph Waldo Emerson. This encouragement led to what would become a lifelong project, as Whitman expanded and rewrote the volume until his death...Hardback$2200Elsewhere:$2400Unit price /UnavailableIn StockShips today -
Great Writers and the Cats who Owned Them
Throughout history, cats and writers have bonded together in a magical combination of comfort, companionship and inspiration. The famous authors featured here range from Samuel Johnson, whose cat Hodge dined on oysters, and Edward Lear, whose charismatic cat Foss was missing half his tail, to Margaret Mitchell, L. M. Montgomery and Dorothy L. Sayers, who rescued her kitten Blitz from...Hardback$3999Unit price /UnavailableIn StockShips today -
Vagabond
The outrageous, riotous memoir from the cult actor and star of The Rocky Horror Picture Show, Clue, and IT. Actor, rock 'n' roll singer, the prince of Halloween, confusing sex symbol. Many labels have been given to the inimitable Tim Curry over the years. All are true, and yet none are quite right. Here, for the first time, Curry reveals...Hardback$4499Elsewhere:$6000Unit price /UnavailableIn StockShips today
Why buy from us?
Book Hero is not a chain store or big box retailer. We're an independent 100% NZ-owned business on a mission to help more Kiwis rediscover a love of books and reading!
Service & Delivery
Our warehouse in Auckland holds over 100,000 books, toys, board games and puzzles in-stock so you're not waiting for your order to arrive from overseas.
Auckland Bookstore
We're primarily an online store, but for your convenience you can pick up your order for free from our bookstore, which is right next door to our warehouse in Hobsonville.
Our Gifting Service
Books make wonderful thoughtful gifts and we're here to help with gift-wrapping and cards. We can even send your gift directly to your loved one.
Arts & Culture lists from the team
Explore our curated lists from our heroes to find your next read!
-
![]()
![]()
![]()
Lizzy's listArts & Culture
Poetry of Aotearoa
Check out some of the amazing local talent we are spoilt with right here in Aotearoa.View the list -
![]()
![]()
![]()
Lizzy's listArts & Culture
Poetry for Beginners - Where to Start
10 Books I'd recommend to someone new to reading poetry - a mix of old and new, all magical introductions to the...View the list -
![]()
![]()
![]()
Lizzy's listArts & Culture
Lizzy's Favourite Books of Poetry
If I could only have 10 poetry collections to survive on for the rest of my life, these are them. Or maybe...View the list -
![]()
![]()
![]()
Lizzy's listArts & Culture
Books to read for Women in Translation month!
August is Women in Translation month, but at any time of year it's worth checking out these incredible novels written by women...View the list -
![]()
![]()
![]()
Shirl's listArts & Culture
Inside the World of Film
Step behind the scenes of the world of filmmaking! Discover iconic directors and movie history of some of the world's memorable films.View the list -
![]()
![]()
![]()
Shirl's listArts & Culture
Books to Celebrate NZ Music Month
New Zealand Music Month happens every May, it's a reminder that we have so many talented musicians, singer, songwriters here in Aotearoa....View the list
