The Most Famous Author of Sonnets in History, Ranked

Voting rules: Choose the author you think is the most famous!

Updated on May 29, 2024 07:36

Determining who the most celebrated author of sonnets is has long been a topic of debate among literature enthusiasts and scholars alike. By voting for your preferred sonneteer, you contribute to a collective assessment that helps clarify which styles and themes resonate most profoundly with contemporary audiences. This process not only assists in appreciating historical literature but also influences future academic and teaching focus. As each vote is cast, the ranking adjusts in real time, reflecting the prevailing opinions and new insights of our users. This dynamic ranking system ensures that the list remains current and relevant, providing an engaging way for individuals to interact with literary history. Your participation is vital, as it enriches the understanding of sonnet mastery through the lens of popular opinion.

Who Is the Most Famous Author of Sonnets in History?

1

47
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William Shakespeare

English playwright, poet, and actor, widely regarded as the greatest writer in the English language and the world's pre-eminent dramatist. He is often called England's national poet and the 'Bard of Avon'. His extant works, including collaborations, consist of some 39 plays, 154 sonnets, three long narrative poems, and a few other verses.
- Notable Sonnet: Sonnet 18 (Shall I compare thee to a summer's day?)
- Era: Elizabethan
In other topics
2

29
votes
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Elizabeth Barrett Browning

An English poet of the Victorian era, popular in Britain and the United States during her lifetime. Browning's poetry is widely popular, especially her sonnets from the Portuguese, a collection of 44 love sonnets.
- Notable Work: Sonnets from the Portuguese
- Era: Victorian
In other topics
- Position 4 in the ranking of the most famous female poet
3

25
votes
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Petrarch

Francesco Petrarca was an Italian scholar, poet, and one of the earliest humanists. Petrarch's rediscovery of Cicero's letters is often credited with initiating the 14th-century Renaissance. He is often considered the founder of Humanism. Petrarch is best known for his Italian poetry, notably the Canzoniere ('Songbook') and the Trionfi ('Triumphs').
- Notable Sonnet: Sonnet 104 (I find no peace, and all my war is done)
- Era: Renaissance
4

19
votes
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John Donne

John Donne was an English scholar, poet, soldier and secretary born into a Catholic family, a remnant of the Roman Catholic reign of England. He is considered the pre-eminent representative of the metaphysical poets. His works are noted for their strong, sensual style and include sonnets, love poems, religious poems, Latin translations, epigrams, elegies, songs, satires and sermons.
- Notable Sonnet: Holy Sonnets
- Era: Elizabethan, Jacobean
In other topics
- Position 1 in the ranking of the most famous metaphysical poet
5

13
votes
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Dante Alighieri

An Italian poet, writer and philosopher. His Divine Comedy, originally called Comedìa and later christened Divina by Giovanni Boccaccio, is widely considered the most important poem of the Middle Ages and the greatest literary work in the Italian language.
- Notable Work: La Vita Nuova
- Era: Late Middle Ages
In other topics
- Position 5 in the ranking of the most famous Italian person
6

12
votes
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Pablo Neruda

A Chilean poet-diplomat and politician who became known as one of the 20th century's most important poets writing in the Spanish language. He won the Nobel Prize for Literature in 1971.
- Notable Work: 100 Love Sonnets
- Era: 20th Century
In other topics
- Position 3 in the ranking of the most famous person born on July 12
- Position 1 in the ranking of the most famous Latin American poet
7

0
votes
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Michelangelo

An Italian sculptor, painter, architect and poet of the High Renaissance born in the Republic of Florence, who exerted an unparalleled influence on the development of Western art. He is also known for his sonnets.
- Notable Work: Michelangelo's Sonnets
- Era: Renaissance
In other topics
8

0
votes
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Rainer Maria Rilke

A Bohemian-Austrian poet and novelist, widely recognized as one of the most lyrically intense German-language poets. He wrote both verse and highly lyrical prose. Several critics have described Rilke's work as inherently 'mystical'.
- Notable Work: Sonnets to Orpheus
- Era: Early 20th Century
9

0
votes
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Edna St. Vincent Millay

An American lyrical poet and playwright. She received the Pulitzer Prize for Poetry in 1923, the third woman to win the award for poetry, and was also known for her feminist activism. She penned works dealing with social issues and wrote many sonnets.
- Notable Work: Fatal Interview
- Era: 20th Century
10

0
votes
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Sir Philip Sidney

An English poet, courtier, scholar, and soldier, who is remembered as one of the most prominent figures of the Elizabethan age. His most famous work, Astrophel and Stella, contains 108 sonnets and 11 songs.
- Notable Work: Astrophel and Stella
- Era: Elizabethan

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About this ranking

This is a community-based ranking of the most famous author of sonnets in history. We do our best to provide fair voting, but it is not intended to be exhaustive. So if you notice something or writer is missing, feel free to help improve the ranking!

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2137 views
145 votes
10 ranked items

Voting Rules

A participant may cast an up or down vote for each writer once every 24 hours. The rank of each writer is then calculated from the weighted sum of all up and down votes.

More about the Most Famous Author of Sonnets in History

Rank #1 for the most famous author of sonnets in history: William Shakespeare (Source)

William Shakespeare stands as the most famous author of sonnets in history. Born in 1564 in Stratford-upon-Avon, England, he grew up in a modest household. His father, John Shakespeare, worked as a glove maker and held various local government positions. His mother, Mary Arden, came from a family of landowners.

Shakespeare attended the King's New School in Stratford, where he likely studied Latin, grammar, and literature. These early years shaped his understanding of classical texts, which later influenced his writing. At 18, he married Anne Hathaway, eight years his senior. They had three children: Susanna, and twins Hamnet and Judith.

In the late 1580s, Shakespeare moved to London. There, he joined a theater company and began writing plays and poetry. His early works gained him recognition and patronage. By the early 1590s, he had established himself as a prominent playwright and poet.

Shakespeare's sonnets, written in the 1590s, explore themes of love, beauty, politics, and mortality. They consist of 14 lines each, using a specific rhyme scheme. His unique style and deep insight into human nature set his sonnets apart.

Despite his success, Shakespeare faced challenges. Theaters closed due to plague outbreaks, disrupting his work. Yet, he continued to write, producing a vast body of work, including 154 sonnets.

Shakespeare's sonnets often address a young man and a "dark lady." Scholars debate the identities of these figures. Some suggest they were real people; others believe they were fictional or symbolic.

Shakespeare's influence extends beyond his lifetime. His works have been translated into numerous languages and adapted into various forms. His sonnets continue to be studied, performed, and admired worldwide.

Shakespeare's legacy endures. He died in 1616, but his works live on. His sonnets remain a testament to his genius and understanding of the human condition.