For sustained dramatic intrigue and sophistication of plot, William Shakespeare's sonnets are at least the equal of his greatest plays. Throughout the centuries since their first publication in 1609, critics, psychologists and curiosity-seekers alike have pondered the nature of the poet's relationships with the mysterious young man, Mr. W.H., and the ill-coloured Dark lady. With or without the mystery, with or without the epic greatness of their author's other works, the sonnets would still have their place among the greatest poems ever written. Compelling, subtle, intellectually rigorous yet taut with intense emotion, each poem survives reading, study and vibrant interpretation from one generation to the next. On this recording, great contemporary actors present the entire sequence, delivering the full range and power of virtuosity, emotional power and bristling intelligence that made Shakespeare great.
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"A new literary project - to learn all 154 of Shakespeare's sonnets by heart. Yes, it's both ridiculous and ambitious. And it's gonna take 3 years.Sonnets 18, 29, 116, 109, 87, 147, 94, 130, 129, 43 all in the bag.120 up next. " — Alex (5 out of 5 stars)
"A new literary project - to learn all 154 of Shakespeare's sonnets by heart. Yes, it's both ridiculous and ambitious. And it's gonna take 3 years.Sonnets 18, 29, 116, 109, 87, 147, 94, 130, 129, 43 all in the bag.120 up next. "
" Shakespeare; that is all. "
" my favorite sonnets are 18, 28, 30, 46, 80, and 141. every single work is beautiful and truly meaningful. william shakespeare is a genius. "
" Sonnet 116 is one of the most clever, and moving, pieces I have ever read. "
" you want to make it with the ladies? read this book till you can recite it from memory. "
" Never been a big fan of shakespeare...reading this as prep for Literature CLEP test...:) "
" Supreme. Poetry at its' deepest hardcore! "
" The sonnets are, of course, gorgeous and incredible - that doesn't change no matter what edition you read.The annotations, however, do make a difference, and in the Arden sonnets they are excellent: "
" this is a great read for everyone! "
" my love is as a fever "
" He really liked to use the word love. It is interesting how he says that fire rhymes with desire.A lot of references on performance and plays too.He probably doesn't care about food. "
" Nobody writes poetry like this anymore. (Except for that guy who tried to ask me out by writing me poetry like this, and I thought he was a freak, so maybe I should eat my own words.) "
" Anyone who loves English literature needs to read a good, critical edition of Shakespeare's Sonnets (I suggest the edition edited by Stephen Booth). "
" The sonnets of William Shakespeare were inspiring, poetic, witty, and romantic. Four and a half stars. "
William Shakespeare (1564–1616), English poet and dramatist of the Elizabethan and early Jacobean period, is the most widely known author in all of English literature and often considered the greatest. He was an active member of a theater company for at least twenty years, during which time he wrote many great plays. Plays were not prized as literature at the time and Shakespeare was not widely read until the middle of the eighteenth century, when a great upsurge of interest in his works began that continues today.
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