This selection of his poetry-sonnets, and songs and verse from plays, some justly familiar, others less known-offers the quintessence of his remarkable art and provides an enticing introduction to his work.
Not marble nor the gilded monumentsOf princes shall outlive this powerful rhymeBut you shall shine more bright in these contentsThan unswept stone besmear'd with sluttish time.--From Sonnet 55Shakespeare's sonnets are the most beloved and famous in the English language--and no home library should be without a copy. For students, this is the perfect little book to use for studying, while devotees of poetry will want it right on the night table, there to enjoy at any time. To make finding a favorite poem easier, there's an index of first lines.
This collection is edited to reflect the changing nature of criticism and scholarship in relation to literature in the 20th century.