Argo Classics -- Sonnets

William Collins Books and Decca Records are proud to present Argo Classics, a historic catalogue of classic prose and verse read by some of the world's most renowned voices. Originally released as vinyl records, these expertly remastered stories are now available to download for the first time. 'In black ink my love may still shine bright....'Universally admired and quoted, Shakespeare's Sonnets have love, beauty and the passing of time at their heart. Featuring some of the best-known and best-loved lines in the history of poetry ('Shall I compare thee to a summer's day?', 'Love is not love which alters when it alteration finds'), these evocative sonnets explore passion, the fleeting nature of beauty and the essence of true and everlasting love. All of the Shakespeare plays within the Argo Classics catalogue are performed by the Marlowe Dramatic Society and Professional Players. The Marlowe was founded in 1907 with a mission to focus on effective delivery of verse, respect the integrity of texts, and rescue neglected plays by Shakespeare's contemporaries and the less performed plays of Shakespeare himself. The Marlowe has performed annually at Cambridge Arts Theatre since its opening in 1936 and continues to produce some of the finest actors of their generations.Thurston Dart, Professor of Music at London University and a Fellow of Jesus College Cambridge, directed the music for this production.The full cast includes: George Rylands; John Barton; Tony Church; Anthony White; Anthony Jacobs; Gary Watson; Richard Marquand; David Gibson.

WILLIAM SHAKESPEARE was born in 1564, the son of a glove-maker from Stratford-upon-Avon, and spent much of his adult life in London. He is widely regarded as the greatest writer in the English language. Shakespeare's poetry first appeared in 1593, dedicated to his patron Henry Wriothesley, the 3rd Earl of Southampton. It is unknown when he wrote each sonnet, but the collection was first published in 1609. He died in 1616, aged 52.
JAMES ANTHONY was born in 1970, the son of an engineer from Peterborough, and has spent much of his adult life in London. James cut his teeth building cars for the Ford Motor Company in Dagenham, and Shakespeare's Sonnets, Retold is his first published work of poetry. He has no aristocratic patron, but, for the time being, remains very much alive. He lives in New York City with his beloved wife, Versha.