Rogue Shakespeare® (aka Ryan J-W Smith) is the most prolific sonneteer in world history*. This summer, he will set a new literary milestone with the release of his first 1,000 sonnets in his new book: Rogue Shakespeare’s Sonnets – Truth in Verse – Part I: The Path to Enlightenment in the Brave New World, Out Now.
Parts II and III of Rogue Shakespeare’s Sonnets are expected to be released in December 2026 and summer 2027 respectively, taking Smith’s published total to 2,702 sonnets. The trilogy will be followed by a collected edition, Rogue Shakespeare’s Bible (Parts I, II & III), containing 37,828 lines of rhyming iambic verse—more than the Odyssey, the Iliad, and all of Shakespeare’s sonnets combined.
Written as the spiritual verse diary of Smith’s alter ego, ‘Rogue Shakespeare’, from November 20, 2007 to September 11, 2024 – Parts I, II & III span his life in England, Florida, Australia, New York, California, Denmark, France and Spain. Like Samuel Pepys before him, Smith has written himself into history as the premier diarist of his time. But Smith’s poetic masterpiece is much more than just an awe-inspiring 17-year secret diary written in strict rhyming iambic pentameter! Boldly political, highly personal, and provably prophetic, Smith challenges the current global order, as much as he strips his artistic soul naked before us.
Smith published the first 500 of his sonnets in 2012 in 500 Shakespearean Sonnets: The Diary of a Poetic Quest for Truth, which received widespread critical acclaim. Watkins Magazine described the collection as “candid, spiritual, philosophical and sometimes boldly political … a landmark in literature.” Scotland’s The Herald hailed it as “splendidly contemporary … a tour de force“, while Neon Literary Magazine praised its “impressively well-constructed” nature and its “fascinating and richly detailed picture of the author.” Book a Poet called the work “awe-inspiring” and praised its political edge, describing it as “honest and very real.”
The first 250 sonnets from Smith’s collection have also been released worldwide by Virgin Music as audiobooks in five volumes and are available to stream or download.
As well as being the world’s most prolific sonneteer, Smith is a multi-hyphenate artist: a multi award-winning verse playwright, actor, director/producer of theatre and film, musician and recording artist, law-school graduate, legal scholar, and now podcaster.
Smith’s verse, in the form of his plays, has already received numerous accolades, including an OFFIES Award in 2025; two Hollywood Fringe International Awards (and two additional nominations); an Amnesty International Freedom of Expression Award nomination; two Encore Producers’ Awards; a Hollywood Fringe Comedy Award nomination; a Gandhi Foundation Award; and The ObserverEdinburgh Fringe Producer of the Year Award. Smith’s verse on film has also been selected for numerous notable international film festivals, including the Cannes Film Festival.
Shakespeare wrote 154 sonnets; Wordsworth wrote around 600; and Smith’s closest rival, the prolific Spanish poet Lope de Vega, wrote around 3,000 sonnets. Smith has now written more than 3,370 personal, spiritual, political, and prophetic sonnets, making him the most prolific sonneteer in recorded history.
Ryan said – “I’m delighted, after more than 25 years of writing verse, to finally be releasing the bulk of my life’s work to the world; sharing my joy and passion for creating raw and honest poetry with everyone, young and old. I hope to inspire people to put down their phones and AI, pick up a pen and notebook, and start rhyming their way to spiritual fulfilment, calm and inner peace.”
Order direct from publisher: HERE
