The Sonnets

by William Shakespeare
The Sonnets cover
Good Books rating 3.83
Poetry
Buy online
Waterstones
Paperback • £2.99–£10.00 Hardback • £9.99–£20.00
Amazon
Format/Price Check
Technical
  • ID: 1490
  • Added: 2025-10-07
  • Updated: 2025-10-19
  • ISBN: 9781139835398
  • Publisher: Cambridge University Press
  • Published: 2006-06-22
  • Formats: 11
  • Reviews: 3

The New Cambridge Shakespeare series offers a comprehensive and up-to-date approach to Shakespeare's works, with a focus on performance and scholarly analysis. This second edition of The Sonnets, edited by Stephen Orgel, provides a new introduction that delves into the sonnets' sexual and temperamental ambiguity, their intricate textual history, and the challenges of modernizing the 1609 quarto. Orgel emphasizes the importance of not reading the sonnets biographically and highlights the discrepancies between their composition order and the quarto's arrangement. The edition retains the text prepared by G. Blakemore Evans, complete with his notes and commentary, making it an essential resource for students and enthusiasts alike./n/nThis edition of The Sonnets is part of the renowned New Cambridge Shakespeare series, known for its line-by-line commentaries and textual notes. The series is regularly updated with accounts of new critical, stage, and screen interpretations, ensuring that readers have access to the latest scholarship. Orgel's introduction offers focused readings that explore the sonnets' complex themes and the difficulties editors face when modernizing the original text. The edition also includes a detailed examination of the sonnets' textual history, providing valuable context for understanding these timeless poems.

Reviews
Folger Shakespeare Library · 2025-10-07
insightful 4.50

The reviewer sees the sonnets as social dialogues rather than isolated expressions, highlighting their conversational nature and emotional depth.

The reviewer provides a modern perspective on Shakespeare's sonnets, emphasizing that they are not just isolated expressions of an individual but rather social dialogues. They appreciate the conversational nature of the sonnets and how they engage the reader in a deeper emotional experience. The reviewer also notes the timeless relevance of these poems, which continue to be studied and appreciated for their depth and complexity.

Quick quotes

    Most Shakespeare sonnets are less the isolated expression of an 'I' than a social dialogue, albeit with only one speaker.

    As with any conversation or phone call, the sonnets invite the reader to participate in the exchange.

    The sonnets are not just poetic expressions but also social dialogues that resonate deeply with readers.

Planksip · 2024-12-05
passionate 4.00

The reviewer finds the sonnets deeply romantic and impactful, suggesting they could even influence personal relationships. They highlight the timeless nature of Shakespeare's work.

The reviewer discusses how Shakespeare's sonnets are not just poetic expressions but also social dialogues that resonate deeply with readers. They particularly appreciate the emotional intensity and the way these poems can evoke strong feelings, even suggesting that one sonnet could significantly impact a romantic encounter. The reviewer also notes the universal appeal of these sonnets, which continue to be relevant and relatable across centuries.

Quick quotes

    The sonnet that, if you ever read it to a girl on a date, might end up resulting in an early fatherhood for you.

    Don't say I didn't warn you.

    Shakespeare's sonnets are not just isolated expressions of an 'I' but a social dialogue.

A Matter of Fancy · 2024-01-15
mixed 3.00

The reviewer admires the poetic language and structure but finds some sonnets less engaging. They appreciate the beauty of the hardback edition.

The reviewer praises the poetic language and the beautiful hardback presentation of the book, noting it as a good value for its price. However, they find that some of the sonnets are less engaging and do not hold their attention as well as others. Despite this, they acknowledge the timeless quality of Shakespeare's work and the enduring appeal of his sonnets.

Quick quotes

    Shall I compare thee to a summer's day?

    Thou art more lovely and more temperate.

    The greatest sonnets ever written, by the greatest poet and playwright in the English language.

Appears in Lists