Sir Philip Sidney

A Defence of Poetry. Edited with an Introduction and Notes by J.A. Van Dorsten.

The Defense of Poesy, Otherwise Known as An Apology for Poetry

Soldier, spy and poet, Sir Philip Sidney remains an enigmatic figure of the Elizabethan world, whose diverse and inspiring works helped to shape the course of English literature throughout the Renaissance, in spite of his tragic early death. The Delphi Poets Series offers readers the works of literature’s finest poets, with superior formatting. This volume presents Sidney’s complete works for the first time in digital publishing history, with beautiful illustrations, Davis’ seminal biography and the usual Delphi bonus material. (Version 3) * Beautifully illustrated with images relating to Sidney’s life and works * Concise introductions to the poetry and other works * Excellent formatting of the poems * Special chronological and alphabetical contents tables for the poetry * Easily locate the poems you want to read * Features BOTH the Old Arcadia and the New Arcadia – available in no other collection * The rare masque composed by Sidney for Queen Elizabeth * Includes Sidney’s complete prose – including the poet’s correspondence * Features two biographies, including S. M. Henry Davis’ full length book on the great Elizabethan author – explore Sidney’s literary life in depth * Scholarly ordering of texts into chronological order and literary genres * UPDATED with improved ASTROPHEL AND STELLA and SONNETS text and 2 more biographies CONTENTS: The Poetry Collections Astrophel and Stella Poems from ‘The Lady of May’ Poems from ‘The Countesse of Pembroke’s Arcadia’ Sonnets and Poetical Translations Two Pastorels Psalms of David The Poems List of Poems in Chronological Order List of Poems in Alphabetical Order The Masque The Lady of May The Prose The Countess of Pembroke’s Arcadia – Old Arcadia The Countess of Pembroke’s Arcadia – New Arcadia An Apologie for Poetry A Discourse on Irish Affairs The Queenes Majesty Touching Hir Mariage with Monsieur Defence of the Earl of Leicester Of the Trewnes of the Christian Religion Correspondence The Biographies The Life of the Renowned Sir Philip Sidney (1652) by Fulke Greville The Life and Times of Sir Philip Sidney (1859) by S. M. Henry Davis Introduction to Philip Sidney (1891) by Henry Morley Philip Sidney (1900) by Sidney Lee

Delphi Complete Works of Sir Philip Sidney (Illustrated)

Philip Sidney was in his early twenties when he wrote his `Old' Arcadia for the amusement of his younger sister, the Countess of Pembroke. The book, which he called `a trifle, and that triflingly handled', reflects their youthful vitality. The `Old' Arcadia tells a romantic story in a manner comparable to that of Shakespeare's early comedies. It is divided into five `Acts', and abounds in lively speeches, dialogues, and quasi-dramatic tableaux. As a vehicle for Sidney's prophetic ideas about English versification, the `Old' Arcadia also includes over seventy poems in a wide variety of metres and genres. In clarity, symmetry, and coherence the `Old' version is greatly superior both to the ambitious but unfinished `New' Arcadia and the amalgamated, `composite' version, a hybrid monster which Sidney himself never envisaged.

The Countess of Pembroke's Arcadia (The Old Arcadia)

Sir Philip Sidney The Major Works

Selected Prose and Poetry

The Countesse of Pembrokes Arcadia

The Complete Works of Sir Philip Sidney: The last part of the Countesse of Pembrokes Arcadia. Astrophel & Stella and other poems. The lady of May

The last part of the Countesse of Pembrokes Arcadia. Astrophel & Stella and other poems. The lady of May

The Countess of Pembroke's Arcadia, being the original version

The Prose Works: The Countess of Pembrokes Arcadia, being the original version

The Complete Works of Sir Philip Sidney: The Countess of Pembroke's Arcadia, being the original version now for the first time printed

The Prose Works of Sir Philip Sidney: The Countesse of Pembrokes Arcadia (original version)

Wherein the Excellence of Sweet Poesy is Concluded

Sir Philip Sidney's Astrophel & Stella

Mary Sidney

Philip Sidney and his sister Mary translated the biblical psalms into some of the greatest lyric poems of the English Renaissance. This is the first complete edition for over forty years, providing the Psalms in an authoritative modernized text, with glosses and notes and an introduction setting the Psalms in their literary and cultural context.

The Psalms of Sir Philip and Mary Sidney

The Sidney Psalter

The Covntesse of Pembrokes Arcadia

Likely composed in the 1580s by Philip Sidney, Astrophel and Stella is an English sonnet sequence containing 108 sonnets and 11 songs. The name derives from the two Greek words, 'aster' (star) and 'phil' (lover), and the Latin word 'stella' meaning star. Thus Astrophel is the star lover, and Stella is his star. Sidney partly nativized the key features of his Italian model Petrarch, including an ongoing but partly obscure narrative, the philosophical trappings of the poet in relation to love and desire, and musings on the art of poetic creation. Sidney also adopts the Petrarchan rhyme scheme, though he uses it with such freedom that fifteen variants are employed. Sir Philip Sidney (1554-1586) became one of the Elizabethan Age's most prominent figures. In 1572, after studying at Christ Church, Oxford, he travelled to France as part of the embassy to negotiate a marriage between Elizabeth I and the Duc D'Alencon. He spent the next several years in mainland Europe. On these travels, he met a number of prominent European intellectuals and politicians. Returning to England in 1575, he occupied himself with politics and art. More seriously, he quarrelled with Edward de Vere, 17th Earl of Oxford, and Sidney challenged de Vere to a duel, which Elizabeth forbade. He then wrote a lengthy letter to the Queen detailing the foolishness of the French marriage. Characteristically, Elizabeth bristled at his presumption, and Sidney prudently retired from court. Sidney had returned to court by the middle of 1581 and was knighted in 1583. His artistic contacts were more peaceful and more significant for his lasting fame. Famous in his day as a poet, courtier and soldier, he remains known as the author of The Countess of Pembroke's Arcadia (1580), Astrophil and Stella (1581) and A Defence of Poetry/Poesie (1581).

Astrophel and Stella (Dodo Press)

The Complete Works of Sir Philip Sidney ...: The Countesse of Pembrokes Arcadia

Mary Sidney Herbert Countess of Pembroke

The Sidney Psalms

Texts include: 'Discourse on Irish Affairs', 'The lady of May', 'A letter to Queen Elizabeth', ' A Defence of Poetry', 'Defence of Leicester' and Sidney's will.

Miscellaneous Prose

Sir Philip Sidney

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