Libraries

400th anniversary of Shakespeare's Sonnets

Painting of William Shakespeare with the text “A celebration of Shakespeare's sonnets!”

In celebration of the 400th anniversary of the publication of the sonnets of William Shakespeare, Western's Department of English and Journalism and University Libraries are sponsoring a reading of the Bard of Avon's poetic masterpieces at the east entrance of the Leslie F. Malpass Library on Wednesday, April 22, 2009, from 12:00 pm to 2:00 pm. All 154 of Shakespeare's sonnets will be read in succession, from the opening lines of Sonnet I, "From fairest creatures we desire increase," all the way to the conclusion of Sonnet CLIV, "Love's fire heats water, water cools not love." The sonnets will be read by members of the University and local community.

Persons interested in reading a particular sonnet at the event should contact Dr. Chris Morrow of the Department of English and Journalism at 309-298-1633 or CL-Morrow@wiu.edu.