I found a gem of a book

[below is an email]

I came across a really unusual book this evening in a Barnes and Noble store. It was published last Sept. (2009). It's called:

Shakespeare's Sonnets and the Bible

by Ira B. Zinman

It's very simply arranged. Every sonnet of Shakespeare is dealt with, in a quick and to-the-point manner. The author presents the sonnet itself, then states its theme, then gives a quick commentary for each quatrain (3 quatrains in each sonnet of course) and then one for the concluding couplet.

Then a more involved commentary follows discussing more in depth the biblical theme(s) of the sonnet. Then biblical passages that parallel the sonnet are presented.

What is striking is the very fact that these sonnets are biblical through and through. Like one sonnet is actually directed to the Holy Spirit rather than the other speculations by critics like the 'dark lady.'

The author uses the King James translation too, fortunately.

Fortunately you can read a few of the treatments from this site.

Read the page, then scroll down to the bottom and see a list of PDFs. You have to click on the check mark(s) to get the PDFs (it's kind of awkward to find the links).

I havn't read the book, obviously since I just acquired it, and my enthusiasm may be diminished when I actually look into it, but at this point it just seems remarkable. For one thing, Shakespeare's sonnets have always presented a strange impression. One never quite knew what to make of them. Having this key opens them up. Strange it isn't common knowledge. Goes to show how literary critics will see anything other than biblical truth in non-biblical authors and writings.