“The Bard Mark Two – it’s staggering!”
– BBC
★★★★★
“The Bard would be proud.”
– Voice Magazine
“Smith’s greatest achievement is to surpass Lope De Vega”
– Times Literary Supplement
“a new literary milestone… over 3k sonnets – an extraordinary number by any standard”
– Blazing Minds
“this masterpiece goes beyond a standard historical record – Ryan J-W Smith, ‘Rogue Shakespeare’, is rewriting literary history”
– The Table Read Magazine
“Rogue Shakespeare’s Sonnets – Truth in Verse is a masterclass in poetry…
a 17 year secret diary which is both political and personal as Smith challenges the norm with his artistic genius.”
– Our Man on the Ground Magazine
“Smith has become the most prolific sonneteer in history”
– The Yorkshire Post
Books and Merch
“Smith’s poetic masterpiece – Like Samuel Pepys before him, Smith has written himself into history as the premier diarist of his time.”
– The Fan Carpet
“a uniquely dedicated, internationally acclaimed, award-winning poet and the world’s most prolific sonneteer”
– Authority Magazine
“Smith has penned more than 3,400 Shakespearean-style sonnets – more than 20 times the number written by Shakespeare – and hopes to help spark a revival of the centuries-old poetic form”
– London Daily News
“If we could do Rogue Shakespeare at school rather than just normal Shakespeare it might be a bit more of a laugh!”
– Louise Hulland, BBC Radio Norfolk
featuring
“BARD TO THE BONE!
The scale of the project has since become extraordinary. The ability is impressive precisely because the process is so public.”
– Cene Magazine
“Candid, spiritual, philosophical and sometimes boldly political… a landmark in literature”
– Watkins Magazine
Nosce te ipsum - know thyself.
- the single, most vital quest that we were sent to planet Earth to achieve.
Following in the footsteps of the great philosophers of the past, in particular the Greeks, Stoics, Taoists, and the Buddha, Smith's unique, record-breaking diary in verse of his alter ego 'Rogue Shakespeare' tracks his progress in finding and learning crucial life lessons via the ancient classical virtues.
PART I
LESSON I - COURAGE & LESSON II - HUMILITY
In Part One of Smith's unparalleled, epic spiritual journey in verse, Rogue Shakespeare takes us deep into his soul, seeking self-mastery, peace and redemption, as he travels the world preparing himself for the ultimate battle ahead. From Florida to Edinburgh, across Australia, to New York, Los Angeles, London and Denmark, Rogue's relationships, self-discovery, politics and his unwavering commitment to truth. lie naked before us.
Truth in Verse - Part I
LESSON I & LESSON II
Sonnets 1-1,000 + Sonnet Zero
(Nov 20, 2007 - Jan 2, 2014)
RELEASED - OUT NOW!
532 pages, B-format
In Part One, Rogue is schooled by the Universe in the virtues of Courage (Lesson I) and Humility (Lesson Il).
Truth in Verse
LESSON I - Courage
Sonnets 1-500 + Sonnet Zero
(Nov 20, 2007 - Sept 18, 2011)
RELEASE DATE: December 1, 2026
280 pages, B-format
In Lesson I, Rogue tests his courage as he travels the world: from Florida to England, Scotland, NYC, LA, across Australia, and back again...
Truth in Verse
LESSON II - Humility
Sonnets 501-1,000
(Sept 18, 2011 - Jan 2, 2014)
RELEASE DATE: December 1, 2026
280 pages, B-format
In Lesson II, Rogue bounces between his native England, New York, LA and Denmark - with each place schooling him wisely in humility.
PART II
LESSON III - COMPASSION & LESSON IV - LOVE
In part two of Smith's unique spiritual journey in verse, Rogue Shakespeare faces immense challenges in compassion and love: his father's death, the dark side of fame, law school, bio weapons, lockdowns, mid-pandemic migration, a new language, exotic lovers, and a global war he long predicted creeping ever closer. From Denmark, to England, Los Angeles, France and Spain, Rogue continues to bare his soul through epic poetry.
Truth in Verse - Part II
LESSON III & LESSON IV
Sonnets 1,001-2,000
(Jan 3, 2014 - Nov 24, 2021)
RELEASE DATE: December 1, 2026
532 pages, B-format
In Part Two, Rogue is schooled by the Universe in the virtues of Compassion (Lesson III) and Love (Lesson IV).
Truth in Verse
LESSON III - Compassion
Sonnets 1,001-1,500
(Jan 3, 2014 - June 21, 2016)
RELEASE DATE: December 1, 2026
280 pages, B-format
In Lesson III, Rogue finds himself living in Los Ángeles, CA. There, he must confront his inner demons and expand his capacity for compassion.
Truth in Verse
LESSON IV - Love
Sonnets 1,501-2,000
(June 22, 2016 - Nov 24, 2021)
RELEASE DATE: December 1, 2026
280 pages, B-format
In Lesson IV, Rogue moves from wild LA, to even wilder pandemic life in Spain. There his love is tested in a way that few men have ever experienced
PART III
LESSON V - DEATH/REBIRTH & LESSON VI - FORTITUDE
In Part III of Smith's wild spiritual journey in verse, Rogue Shakespeare faces the ultimate challenge: Death/Rebirth is not just a chapter title, but an existential reality, as his spirit forces him to survive that which should have killed him. Rising again, he finds new depths of courage to speak truth to power like never before. Confident, at peace, and aware of his future, we witness a Renaissance master manifesting his own destiny.
Truth in Verse - Part III
LESSON V & LESSON VI
Sonnets 2,001-2,700 + Sonnet Zero-One
(Nov 25, 2021 - Sept 10, 2024)
RELEASE DATE: SPRING, 2027
380 pages, B-format
In Part Three, Rogue is schooled by the Universe through Death/Rebirth (Lesson V) and the virtue of Fortitude (Lesson VI).
Truth in Verse
LESSON V - Death/Rebirth
Sonnets 2,001-2,200
(Nov 25, 2021 - March 15, 2023)
RELEASE DATE: SPRING, 2027
130 pages, B-format
In Lesson V, Rogue suffers physical annihilation. He accepts his own death; only to be sent back from a place there is usually no coming back from.
Truth in Verse
LESSON VI - Fortitude
Sonnets 2,201-2,700 + Sonnet Zero-One
(March 16, 2023 - Sept 10, 2024)
RELEASE DATE: SPRING, 2027
280 pages, B-format
In Lesson VI, Rogue fights his way back from the brink of death with fortitude, determined to publish all his sonnets and plays whilst he still lives.
ROGUE SHAKESPEARE'S BIBLE
T R U T H I N V E R S E
– Parts I, II & III –
LESSONS I - VI
THE COMPLETE 'TRUTH IN VERSE' COLLECTION
SONNETS 1-2,700
(Nov 20, 2007 - Sept 10, 2024)
+ Sonnet Zero (The Prologue) + Sonnet Zero-One (The Epilogue)
RELEASE DATE: SUMMER, 2027
1,388 pages, B-format
also available by Rogue Shakespeare
Rogue Shakespeare:
3 Plays
(Pretty, Witty Nell®, Love Labours Won, Romeo and Juliet it Ain’t!)
third edition (2025), B format, 150 pages
3 Award-winning/nominated verse plays, by Rogue Shakespeare (aka Ryan J-W Smith)
500 Shakespearean Sonnets
The Diary of a Poetic Quest for Truth
Sonnets 1-500 – the original 2012 book – RARE First Edition
first edition (2012) – B format – 1/500
The first 500. An honest, unfiltered, spiritual diary in verse, Smith’s first 500 sonnets were published in 2012 and received glowing reviews from critics and readers alike. These sonnets now make up LESSON I one (of six) in Smith’s epic three-part tome of over 2,700 sonnets, ‘Rogue Shakespeare’s Bible‘.
Music
For music by Rogue Shakespeare®
Stream/download via all good online record stores worldwide, including...
