Patrick Stewart Performs the Complete Sonnets of William Shakespeare: With Original Commentary by Patrick Stewart

Summary

An instant audio classic! Sir Patrick Stewart draws upon his decades on the Shakespearean stage to bring listeners an all-new, definitive recording of the complete Sonnets—an audio treasury of incandescent performances and insightful personal commentary.

Already beloved by audiobook listeners for the acclaimed recordings of his one-man stage adaptation of A Christmas Carol and his award–winning, bestselling memoir Making It So, the Grammy Award-winning, Tony- and Emmy-nominated star of stage and screen now gives listeners his most ambitious and rewarding audio project yet.

Sir Patrick Stewart brought Shakespeare into the lives of millions in the early days of the pandemic when he began posting daily online sonnet readings that exploded into a social media phenomenon. Now he returns to that timeless material to offer fresh new performances of all 154 of Shakespeare’s sonnets, along with personal thoughts and anecdotes that make for a uniquely powerful and intimate audio presentation.

Stewart spent over forty years with the Royal Shakespeare Company, developing an informed and empathetic approach to the material that brings these classic works of literature to life for today’s listening audiences. In addition to spirited, meticulously crafted performances of each poem, Stewart shares reflections on his creative process that can guide listeners’ deeper appreciation of the poetry—from curious explorations of a particular word or turn of phrase to candid insights about feeling energized and uplifted by the material, connecting with Shakespeare in a more personal and intimate way, and ultimately discovering the essential message of love at the heart of each sonnet.

In Stewart’s distinctively rich and resonant voice, those qualities of curiosity, uplift, connection, and love can be heard in every moment of this remarkable recording.