Venus and Adonis

On a summer morning Adonis, a beautiful youth who cares for nothing but hunting, sets out for the chase, and Venus, the goddess of love herself, sick with desire, hurries to woo him. She pulls him from his horse, pleads, argues, kisses and holds him fast, while he blushes, sulks and longs to be gone. When he finally announces that tomorrow he will hunt the wild boar, comedy turns toward tragedy.

Venus and Adonis, first published in 1593, was the first of Shakespeare's works to appear in print and one of the most popular poems of its age. Drawn from Ovid but boldly reimagined, it is witty, sensuous and moving by turns, full of vivid animals, quick arguments and memorable lines on love, desire, beauty and loss, written in the six-line stanzas that would make it a favourite for generations.

Readers who know Shakespeare's plays and sonnets, lovers of classical myth, and anyone curious about the young poet at work will find much to enjoy here.

This edition contains the complete text of the poem, together with a new introduction, a guide to the principal characters, a summary of the story, a discussion of its themes, a glossary of old and unusual words, and discussion questions for readers, students and book clubs.