Rating: 
Summary: Sonnet editions VARY so greatly in quality
Review: Shakespeare? Not all that bears his name deserves it. No longer alive to protect it, "Shakespeare" may be claimed by any publisher wishing to boost sales through a (...) edition.From Dover, for example, we have: Paper that is (...) newsprint. Editing that is unreliable and anonymous. A complete blank where we need annotation with definitions of Elizabethan words. A sure way to dash a new student's appreciation for Shakespeare. You won't spend much on a Dover edition, but 100% (okay: 99%) of it will be wasted. For more thorough suggestions on finding a REWARDING edition of the Bard's great love poetry, see the comparative review at the BN edition of the sonnets: ISBN 088029941X You owe it to any thoughtful mind, to any open heart... to offer a taste of the grandeur of Shakespeare's Sonnets. There ARE wonderful editions in print to begin the feast. Unfortunately, even more numerous are the disappointing travesties that have been attractively bound and foisted on unsuspecting newcomers to Shakespeare. Caveat emptor. NOTE: Because of Amazon(.com)'s way of linking reviews, it is difficult to know to which edition the reviewers below (if not providing an ISBN) refer.
Rating: 
Summary: Perfect - if you want only the bare bones
Review: The Dover Thrift Edition of the Complete Sonnets is exactly that: the complete sonnets, and nothing more. Though often scorned by literary snobs, the entire Dover series does fulfill one very useful function: it provides cheap, easy-to-read, and widely-available versions of literary classics. What you get, in this case, are all of Shakespeare's sonnets (undisputably some of the greatest poems ever written and a true treasure of English literature; obviously, a review of any edition of these poems will inevitably focus not upon the work itself, which is beyond repute, but, rather, on the individual edition as presented) -- and nothing else. Much more expansive (and expensive) versions are available, featuring an introduction to the sonnets with background information, notes and annotations, a handy list of definitions for archaic and obscure Elizabethian words -- and, more than likely, at least one pretentious individual interpretation of the work. Obviously, if one is looking to study Shakespeare, really go in-depth into the sonnets for scholarly or academic purposes, then one should look into one of the editions just described. If you just want a copy of the sonnets without desiring to spend too much money, you don't need or don't want all of those extras, or you simply want to impress incredulous people by owning a set of Shakespeare's sonnets, however, then you could do worse than picking up this inexpensive little book.
Rating:
Summary: Perfect - if you want only the bare bones
Review: The Dover Thrift Edition of the Complete Sonnets is exactly that: the complete sonnets, and nothing more. Though often scorned by literary snobs, the entire Dover series does fulfill one very useful function: it provides cheap, easy-to-read, and widely-available versions of literary classics. What you get, in this case, are all of Shakespeare's sonnets (undisputably some of the greatest poems ever written and a true treasure of English literature; obviously, a review of any edition of these poems will inevitably focus not upon the work itself, which is beyond repute, but, rather, on the individual edition as presented) -- and nothing else. Much more expansive (and expensive) versions are available, featuring an introduction to the sonnets with background information, notes and annotations, a handy list of definitions for archaic and obscure Elizabethian words -- and, more than likely, at least one pretentious individual interpretation of the work. Obviously, if one is looking to study Shakespeare, really go in-depth into the sonnets for scholarly or academic purposes, then one should look into one of the editions just described. If you just want a copy of the sonnets without desiring to spend too much money, you don't need or don't want all of those extras, or you simply want to impress incredulous people by owning a set of Shakespeare's sonnets, however, then you could do worse than picking up this inexpensive little book.
Rating: 
Summary: Perfect!
Review: The perfect pocket edition of Mr. Shakespeare's sonnets! Of course, if you are wondering what they mean, and all that, you will have to get yourself familiar with Rowse's edition of the sonnets: A. L. Rowse: Shakespeare's Sonnets. But once you know who the principal characters are -- Henry Wriothesley, the young Earl of Southampton, Christopher Marlowe, and Emilia Lanier -- plus young Will Shakespeare himself -- then the Dover will do fine for you and yours. After all, this is exactly the book you could have bought on its first day of publication, four centuries ago!! :-) ttfn jimmy
Rating:
Summary: Perfect!
Review: The perfect pocket edition of Mr. Shakespeare's sonnets! Of course, if you are wondering what they mean, and all that, you will have to get yourself familiar with Rowse's edition of the sonnets: A. L. Rowse: Shakespeare's Sonnets. But once you know who the principal characters are -- Henry Wriothesley, the young Earl of Southampton, Christopher Marlowe, and Emilia Lanier -- plus young Will Shakespeare himself -- then the Dover will do fine for you and yours. After all, this is exactly the book you could have bought on its first day of publication, four centuries ago!! :-) ttfn jimmy
Rating:
Summary: What Bill wrote
Review: The sonnets of Mr Shakespeare are wonderful literary exercises. They are probably a bit mannered, and they may well have been written with his left hand...idly recording his love life and his autobiography while his mind raced on to greater things. But there should be no Doubt at all, that -- even though the paper may be [inexpensive], and the type face be uneven -- and there be no NOTES there at all... still, one can read: That time of year thou mayst in me behold
Where yellow leaves, or none, or few, do hang,
Upon those boughs where late the sweet birds sang
Bare ruined choirs... Oh, ..., I have misquoted the sonnet. You Will have to
go read it yourself! :-) In me thou seest the twilight of such day
As after sunset sinketh in the west.... O yes, send out for footnotes!
Rating:
Summary: Cannot recommend a book more highly!
Review: This book could hardly be of higher quality, and it could hardly be more inexpensive. Free sample: XXV.
Let those who are in favour with their stars,
Of public honour and proud titles boast,
Whilst I, whom fortune of such triumph bars,
Unlook'd for joy in that I honour most. Great prince's favourites their fair leaves spread
But as the marigold at the sun's eye;
And in themselves their pride lies buried,
For at a frown they in their glory die. The painful warrior famoused for fight,
After a thousand victories once foil'd,
Is from the book of honour razed quite,
And all the rest forgot for which he toiled: Then happy I, that love and am belov'd
Where I may not remove, or be remov'd. Highest recommendation!
Rating:
Summary: Cannot recommend a book more highly!
Review: This book could hardly be of higher quality, and it could hardly be more inexpensive. Free sample: XXV.
Let those who are in favour with their stars,
Of public honour and proud titles boast,
Whilst I, whom fortune of such triumph bars,
Unlook'd for joy in that I honour most. Great prince's favourites their fair leaves spread
But as the marigold at the sun's eye;
And in themselves their pride lies buried,
For at a frown they in their glory die. The painful warrior famoused for fight,
After a thousand victories once foil'd,
Is from the book of honour razed quite,
And all the rest forgot for which he toiled: Then happy I, that love and am belov'd
Where I may not remove, or be remov'd. Highest recommendation!
Rating:
Summary: A Perfect Topping for Every Bedside Table - Classic!
Review: Who can possibly go wrong with Shakespeare? In my mind, there is nothing better than curling up with a classic right before you go to bed. Shakespeare's sonnets inspire you to think, dream, and love. A must for every writer, the sonnets are an excellent primer on structure, metaphor and word play. This book is a steal at 99 cents!
Rating:
Summary: A Perfect Topping for Every Bedside Table - Classic!
Review: Who can possibly go wrong with Shakespeare? In my mind, there is nothing better than curling up with a classic right before you go to bed. Shakespeare's sonnets inspire you to think, dream, and love. A must for every writer, the sonnets are an excellent primer on structure, metaphor and word play. This book is a steal at 99 cents!
| 
