The Sonnets

by Warwick Collins

Shakespeare in Love for the a fictional tale of how Shakespeare wrote his most famous poems.
No one knows for sure precisely when and where Shakespeare wrote his sonnets or, more intriguingly, who he wrote them for. In this wonderfully entertaining novel acclaimed author Warwick Collins imagines the circumstances that inspired 30 of the Bard's most popular sonnets.
The young Will Shakespeare is living under the patronage of Henry Wriothesley, Earl of Southampton. The controversial earl is under pressure from his family and those close to the royal court to settle down but he is far too busy drinking, carousing and cavorting with his motley band of acquaintances to pay attention. Not then, the obvious setting for poetic genius but within the politics (both State and sexual) of this lofty household Will finds lots to inspire his pen, and a few attractive distractions too.
Collins has crafted a clever, witty and enjoyable novel from fragments of history. He interweaves 30 sonnets into the text in seamless fashion. The Sonnets wears its scholarship lightly and its love of Shakespeare and poetry proudly.

Genres: Historical Fiction, Shakespeare, Historical, Fiction

First published November 1, 2008

Reviews

[Charles · Rating 4 out of 5]

I’ve just finished Warwick Collins’ new novel, entitled The Sonnets and drawing its inspiration from Shakespeare’s sonnet sequence and the circumstances in which it was written. It’s a brave man who decides to narrate an episode from Shakespeare’s life in the first person - who opts, in other words, to impersonate the man himself - and an even braver one who pens a couple of extra sonnets at crucial moments in the narrative, but Collins pulls off the first with considerable elegance and skill, and the second by the skin of his teeth, which is only natural.

The book weaves a context for some of the most famous sonnets, providing an entirely plausible sequence of events to explain the various mysteries surrounding their writing, although I admit to having a vested interest in Shakespeare’s presumed bisexuality, which gets short shrift here. What impressed me most about the book, though, wasn’t the way in which the sonnets are contextualized, adroit though this was, but the handling of Shakespeare’s relations with a bunch of finely-drawn characters. Not only Southampton, whose initial foolhardiness and growing maturity are convincingly portrayed, but a host of others.

You can read the rest of my review here: http://charles-lambert.blogspot.com/2...

[mxd · Rating 3 out of 5]

I think I bought this book when it first came out. I quite liked the idea of a fictionalised account of how the sonnets were conceived. I ended up getting very bored and finding it far too twee for my taste and shoved it into a corner filled with books that taunt me for wasting money on things I end up ignoring.

My second attempt to read it faired better, probably because I felt a little kinder towards the subject this time. It's a quick and short read, quiet in tone, thoughtful and pretty convincing as speculative fiction goes. I quite liked the inclusion of the sonnets, though their use doesn't always work well, disrupting the flow of the narrative on occasion. What I really liked were the characters, who were always interesting and engaging.

Not bad. Three stars because I'm fairly certain how much you enjoy this book depends on what mood you're in. Not one to read when you're being a cranky-pants.

[Caroline · Rating 4 out of 5]

A novel set around Shakespeare's sonnets, it puts forward the idea that many were written during the closure of London theatres (to prevent the spread of plague), for his patron Henry Wriothesley, 2nd Earl of Southampton (the 1st Earl being the 'call me Risley' of Hilary Mantel's Wolf Hall).

I thought this was engaging and fascinating, and most importantly, brought the sonnets to life.

[Charlotte · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is not normally the sort of book I would pick for myself, tending to be one who leans more towards chick-lit than anything else. However, having studied Shakespeare’s sonnets through English and drama classes, I was actually quite interested to see what this book would be like and I really was pleasantly surprised. The inclusion of the sonnets with relation to the text was brilliant and it was really interesting to see a possible context in which they might have been written. The author used quite poetic language which really helped capture the mood of Shakespeare’s world and it was easy to imagine that it was actually Shakespeare’s voice. It was also interesting to see quotes from some of the plays slipped in, although at times it did seem a little unnecessary and jarring, almost like an awkward pun randomly placed in.

I found that it was an extremely quick read and really quite engrossing, I’d recommend it to anybody, but especially people who may have studied or are studying Shakespeare at school. Rather than just having to learn the sonnets, it’s a great way to explore and see a different side to them.

[Victoria Jackson · Rating 4 out of 5]

Very quick read. Deals with the period 1592-94 when the theatres were closed because of plague and the supposition that Shakespeare was working in Southampton's household and very friendly with the Earl during this period, so he could make a living. Southampton even gave him £1000 to invest in the theatre later, according to this nove. The dark lady in the sonnets is clerk/tutor's Italian wife and the original sonnets were an "experiment". (Shakespeare talks about his great age, as a comparison with Southampton who was under 20 while he was 26). Very plausible and thought provoking, interspersed with some of the sonnets themselves.

[Meg]

Suprisingly sweet and convincing fictionalisation of Shakespeare as a young playwright. Attempts to provide explanations and context to his sonnets. Why oh why do publishers have to use the same cover (headless woman in period dress) for all historical fiction. The Sonnets is so much better than Philippa Gregory so don't be misled!

[Jan Greer · Rating 2 out of 5]

I struggled with this entire book. Although a clever idea, to write a novel around Shakespeare's sonnets and their subject matter, it was a trifle to flowery for my liking.

[Dr. Cheryl S. Vanatti]

Read my thoughts over on Many a Quaint & Curious Volume: https://manyaquaintandcuriousvolume.b...