The Complete Sonnets and Poems: The Oxford Shakespeare: The Oxford Shakespearethe ^Acomplete Sonnets and Poems (Oxford World's Classics)

All the poems and sonnets, with great footnotes, introduction etc.

The book contains the Shakespeare’s sonnets I specifically wanted to read and understand. English is not my native language, so the side-notes are really helpful and useful to aid understanding of some terms or old-use words.

This book is a model of how to compose an anthology in a way which is approachable both to the student and to the general reader. Shakespeare is primarily thought of as a dramatist; his poetry (if considered at all) has tended to be viewed wholly through the plays. He has been more often than not regarded as a playwright who happened to write some poems "on the side". The Sonnets in particular (given that we know so little about the details of his life) have been ransacked for biographical confessions, possible indicators of both Shakespeare's inner thought world and his sexuality. This book seeks to redress that and asks the question: "what kind of poet was Shakespeare"? This volume also crucially places the whole of Shakespeare's poetical output in context. This means considering not only other contemporary cultural, literary and philosophical ideas but also of the wider late sixteenth century early seventeenth century world in which they were written. This means that when you actually come to read the poems you can appreciate the kind of audience for which they were written; what conventions were being addressed (or not) the many conceits employed by the poet to give form and meaning to his verse. This book also contains numerous works which later generations assigned to Shakespeare as the author but which we now know were not by him. This helps to understand what was seen as "Shakespearean" in the years following his death in 1616. All of which assists the reader to understand the context of these poems. So often the literature of this period can seem a closed world because it was written in a particular way for people who were familiar with classical and Renaissance conventions and motifs in a way that we are not. The general introduction is extremely helpful in mapping the essentials of each work while there are on page and facing commentaries. This is particularly useful when navigating individual poems such as Venus & Adonis or The Rape of Lucrece as well as The Sonnets themselves. It is also a well bound, well printed book which is actually very tactile. It feels good to pick it up and open its pages to read the treasures within. I studied Shakespeare a great deal while I was at school and as an undergraduate. But I cannot recall ever being tasked to study his poetry let alone have to dissect a sonnet in the same way as a scene from a play. I am working my way slowly through The Sonnets; their power is extraordinary. Little by little and with the help of this excellent book I am discovering the jewels of poetry which Shakespeare left us and can only encourage you to do the same. You really won't regret a second.

This is a very comprehensive book on the sonnets and poetry of Shakespeare. A lot of narrative is included as well. A thick paperback book, which I am sure you will use a great deal now and in the future.

Was grubby with writing notes but overall ok for the price. Arrived promptly.

Shall I compare the to a summer's day?Thou art more lovely and more temperate.Rough winds do shake the darling buds of MayAnd summer's lease has all to short a dateIt's worth buying the book, for that alone!

Complete as the title says, this book also has a wealth of well researched, well presented notes to each poem making it a really useful study aid as well as a readable compendium.

WS in all his glory and such wonderful, soulful poetry. A good replacement for my original complete works but I can do without the commentaries as I am no longer a student.