Shakespeare's Sonnets are among the most lyrical and moving pieces of
poetry in any language, abounding with examples of his genius for
wordplay, rhythm and metaphor and dealing with the eternal themes of
love, memory, beauty and the ravishes of time. First published in 1609,
after Shakespeare had written many of his most famous works, the Sonnets
have been the subject of literary curiosity ever since, mainly
concerning the identity of the two addressees, 'Mr W.H.' and the 'Dark
Lady', and the light they could shine on Shakespeare's life.
This collection constitutes one of English literature's most profound
poetic meditations on life and love, and is a vital complement to the
plays, offering clues to Shakespeare's own biography. Presented here in
an edition that makes them accessible to twentieth-century readers,
these poems are worth returning to again and again.