Shakespeare's Sonnets (Arden Shakespeare)

These books are great for the first time you read a Shakespeare play. Having modern English and the original side by side, you understand the story, and after that, can focus on Shakespeare's ability with language.

The sonnets are the best.. Of course it is Shakespeare and what would you expect? He is the best.. I have enjoyed it so much.. wishing I could write like this. And thank you for such a fast deliveryAges Of Man.

Shakespeare's collection of sonnets is so much a part of the western cultural heritage that reviewing it is kind of like taking coals to Newcastle, but it is worth a few words. First, however, a note about this edition: it is exactly what I wanted, with a few unobstructive footnotes at the bottom of each page, an index of first lines, and two critical introductions, one offering up historical context, the other more interpretative. They enhance your reading, they do not do it for you.

Now, why you want to read this collection. Most of us come to the sonnets singly: random reading assignments, in mixed anthologies, or one is quoted provocatively some place. With few exceptions, each is a perfect example of what the sonnet form does and how form itself shapes meaning. But read straight through consecutively, they offer a close-to-the-bone narrative of Shakespeare's preoccupations. This is the source of all that speculation about his sexual preferences. We've all heard lots of opinions on the bard's relationship with the "Young Man" and the "Dark Lady" but there is nothing like getting it first hand, and I must say that my ideas changed after sorting through for myself. For one thing, love--platonic or carnal--is not the only thing on his mind. Immortality, beauty, truth and a few other problems get a work out. The most pleasant surprise is how truly readable and accessible it all is.

I purchased these books more as decoration for a shelf I have in my family room. They look great and add that little bit of color and style I was looking for. They're not big books though if thats what you're looking for, but great to look at! Feel sturdy as well.

I love Shakespeare's sonnets, but that's not what I'm reviewing--I'm reviewing this particular edition of the sonnets. I received it as a gift and, since it was the only copy I had of the sonnets available to me for some time, I looked forward to reading some old favorites.

Much to my chagrin, I couldn't locate any of the sonnets I had made it a point to remember. At last, in an act of desperation, I turned to the preface and found that the editor had renumbered the entire collection according to their probable chronological sequence--meaning the order familiar to nearly everyone has been turned on its head.

Oh, but for convenience's sake, they did put the traditional numbers of the sonnets in Roman numerals and brackets at the bottom of each, which doesn't really help at all. It became bothersome and tiring to seek out even one of the sonnets I enjoyed so much.

The thing that earned this book three stars, though, rather than one or two, is the artwork of Charles Robinson. Even if the numbering of the sonnets is a huge bother, the illustrations are infinitely nice to look at. They have a turn of the century feel which is well-suited to Shakespeare's poems.

This is a nice edition to have for the artwork, or if you can't find another edition (such as the excellent Pelican Shakespeare copy from Penguin). Otherwise, find one that sticks to the usual numbering sequence or has an index of first lines, which this lacks.

What can anyone say about Shakespeare's Sonnets that has not already been said. I really liked this reading of the sonnets. I would like to hear comments on the language and some of the words used. That would be helpful.

The sonnet, challenging the mind to rhyme and rhythm, and still come up with the beauty and wit of it all - like a painting- the frame, the canvas and the paint are basic structures, but what story you tell is what gives the sonnet, and the painting, its wow factor. Shakespeare might have been a woman!

This colection is a great value considering it is free. I have referenced these works countless times when researching and writing my own poetry. This is a must have collection for anyone who wants exposure to some of the most lyrical and beautiful writing in the english language.

Compact book of everlasting sonnets. Portable anywhere, this inexpensive edition offers a treasure trove of sonnets in a version accessible to any body. I have started memorizing Sonnet 18 and plan on doing two per month.

In these sonnets Shakespeare shows his awesome mastery of the English language and his deep and profound insight into the human conditions and matters of the heart. Reading his sonnets is absolutely breathtaking at times.

This bird of uncertain plumage, thus upstart crow. This hack Shakespeare. He writes these sonnets, see, but you can never tell who he's writing them to. Is it a dark lady? Another man? Is this a bromance or does the notorious Billy S. swing both ways?
Okay, sonnets like "My mistress' eyes are nothing like the sun" and "Shall I compare thee to a summer's day" are pretty good. But then he writes a sonnet in which he arrogantly states that his sonnets will outlast monuments and endure through time. How does he know? And what if they did? Does that make him something special?
I suppose it does.

This is an easily digestable way to quickly familiarize one's self with Shakey's oeuvre. A lot of the time when watching Shakespeare on stage the speed at which the players must speak leaves little time to truly consider what is said, and thus we have more or less an industry of scholarship surrounding the bard that persists to this day. While I won't be getting a degree of any sort in anything close to theatre, this is still a valuable collection to have on hand (especially at this price).

When you're stuck in line or otherwise left indisposed it can be nice to have a quick whiff of Shakespeare a few taps away on your phone's Kindle app.

Not only did William Shakespeare develop stories that would be told centuries after his time, he would also write elegant poetry with wit and charm unlike any other. Shakespeare is definitely worth his salt in more than just his plays, but exhibits great creativity in all aspects of writing. The sonnets are a great read and I would recommend them to anyone interested in poetry or wonderful literature.

Not enough people still see the value of reading Shakespeare. His plays are timeless stories with themes that transcend culture and personhood. But his poetry gets straight to the heart. As simply as that, he captures the romantic in all of us with this collection of sonnets, varying in theme from the blindness of love, to bordering on hatred for one's significant other. My personal favorite is sonnet 145.