This is the only fully annotated and modernized edition to bring together Shakespeare's sonnets as well as all his poems (including those attribute...
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Oct 06, 2010
Bettie
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This review has been hidden because it contains spoilers.
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Nov 14, 2011
David
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I haven't worked my way entirely through all the poems, but I was moved to start by remembering the very powerful and enigmatic effect the poem 'Let the Bird of Loudest Lay' exerted on me when I was beginning to explore literature. It was most interesting and rewarding to revisit the poem, assisted by the notes, and to read some of the others for the first time, such as 'The Rape of Lucrece' and the wonderfully overwrought 'Venus and Adonis'. I'm sharpening my poetry pickaxe and climbing the s
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Jun 26, 2008
Ron
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This isn't the exact edition I read, because that one was not one of the options given me, but it was an Oxford edition, so this is close enough. The content - the sonnets themselves - are what count.
I'm probably going to be pilloried for speaking sacrilege against THE GREAT ONE, but while the best of these poems rank among the great world classics in the form, Shakespeare is capable of writing dull -or at least less enthralling - poems as well. If I were counting only the 10-15 grea More...
I'm probably going to be pilloried for speaking sacrilege against THE GREAT ONE, but while the best of these poems rank among the great world classics in the form, Shakespeare is capable of writing dull -or at least less enthralling - poems as well. If I were counting only the 10-15 grea More...
Oct 25, 2009
Mike
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This review is based on the sonnets only, which I had to read to count the classical allusions of all things. Burrow's edition has a stellar reputation, and having read the sonnets, his glosses, and his full and complete introduction, I agree with all the hype. This is the best edition of the sonnets that I have read or can imagine. Thoroughly informed and informative, the sonnet pages are all that you can hope for. I look forward to reviewing other portions of Burrow's fine edition someday.
Jun 09, 2009
Beyle
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I read these sonnets from the perspective of book history. However, the recurrent themes of immortality and time are interesting from the perspective of how Shakespeare might have given his consent to have these sonnets published. Of course, there are many conflicting theories about how these poems came to be and to whom they were written. Perhaps Shakespeare did not write these for any particular person, but rather, to secure his own immortality through his poetry.
Jan 16, 2011
Mitchell
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Reading The Rape of Lucrece
I remembered this as being less immediate than 'Venus and Adonis'. I felt it was much more 'classical' and more austere. This time around I was struck by the powerful narrative and especially by the vividness of the workings of the minds of Lucrece and Tarquin.
I was very happy to have the chance to encounter this again.
I remembered this as being less immediate than 'Venus and Adonis'. I felt it was much more 'classical' and more austere. This time around I was struck by the powerful narrative and especially by the vividness of the workings of the minds of Lucrece and Tarquin.
I was very happy to have the chance to encounter this again.
Nov 22, 2008
Nikki
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I never thought much about Shakespeare, or really tried to investigate his writing beyond the plays I was forced to read, which is a shame. His sonnets are lovely, and some of them are supremely clever. I love the inversions in sonnet 130, for example, and the sting in the tail of sonnet 18, "shall I compare thee to a summer's day"...
Dec 09, 2011
Simon
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I like the plays, I understand them. I just couldn't do this. I'm not a poet and I have not the talent in the field of old English either. I shant be bothered by such ridiculous devianceies.
I'll stick to your stories Will.
I'll stick to your stories Will.
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Jan 27, 2010
The complete works of Shakespeare (including all the plays, sonnets and poems) are available free to read/download/print here:
http://www.opensourceshakespeare.org/
http://www.opensourceshakespeare.org/
Mar 24, 2010
Kei
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a thick volume filled with massive information and notes. suitable for professional use, than commons' fun reading including myself.
Apr 16, 2010
Irene
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Well, I would have really loved if I were not so poorly educated in poetry generally and literature of this period specificly.
Jan 17, 2010
I'm not sure that I've actually read *all* of the sonnets, but I have read many of them and all of the narrative poems.
Jan 19, 2010
Robert
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I'd skimmed over the sonnets before without much interest, but the latest Folger edition places this in context of Shakespeare's life, establishes the consistency of the collection as a whole and makes them far more readable than I had thought.
Apr 05, 2009
Stephanie
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This is a seriously wonderful edition--the glossing is actually quite helpful, and the introduction is thoroughly researched and wide-reaching in both its historical situating of the poems as well as the elements at work in the poems.
Jan 19, 2010
Mary
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Reall amazing texture and layers. Double and triple-word play. You can mine new gem out of any one of these sonnets with every read. I loved it.
Sep 22, 2008
Jeannie-marie
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I always fall on these when I'm inbetween books. It helps to restore balance and give me new direction for my next liturature journey.
Aug 29, 2008
Lisa
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There was a time when I memorized a good deal of Shakespeare. Just because.
8, 10, 23, 30, 90, 116, 138, 141
8, 10, 23, 30, 90, 116, 138, 141
Jan 19, 2010
Jeana
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I enjoyed reading these sonnets--I definitely enjoyed some of them more than others.
May 31, 2008
Lauren
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These can easily put anyone in a good mood!
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