The sonnets of William Shakespeare are among the most famous love poems in the English language. For sustained dramatic intrigue and sophistication of plot, these works are at least the equal of Shakespeare’s greatest plays. Compelling, subtle, and intellectually rigorous—yet taut with intense emotion—each poem invites study, interpretation, and awe, from one generation to the next.

This recording presents them in their entirety, allowing a new generation to discover Shakespeare’s emotional power, mastery of language, and insight into the human condition. Acclaimed actors from the past fifty years perform the entire sequence of 154 sonnets—along with “A Lover’s Complaint” and selected songs—delivering the full range and power of virtuosity, emotional power and bristling intelligence that made Shakespeare great. Among the readers are Roscoe Lee Browne, Christopher Cazenove, Minnie Driver, Kelsey Grammer, Edward Herrmann, Patrick Macnee, Juliet Mills, Vanessa Redgrave, Jean Smart, Alfre Woodard, and Michael York.