First published in 1609, Shakespeare's Sonnets are considered some of the most beautiful poems in the English language. Wonderful lines, such as 'Shall I compare thee to a summer's day' or 'To me, fair friend, you can never be old', evoke joy and tenderness, while others express deep passion and desire.

Whether addressed to the Fair Youth, the Rival Poet, or the Dark Lady, these sonnets' universal themes of love, death, and the passage of time hold a meaning for everyone, and it is unsurprising that they have been translated into every major written language.