The sonnets

William Shakespeare (1564–1616) was an English poet and playwright. He is widely regarded as the most important writer in the English language and one of the world’s greatest playwrights. He is often referred to as England’s national poet and the ‘Bard of Avon’. His surviving works, including some collaborative pieces, consist of approximately 38 plays, 154 sonnets, two long narrative poems and numerous other poems. His works have been translated into most of the world’s languages and are performed more frequently than those of any other playwright.