Astrophil and Stella (Version 2)

Astrophil and Stella (Version 2) is a collection of sonnets and songs penned by Sir Philip Sidney, a renowned poet, courtier, and soldier during the Elizabethan era. The work revolves around the bittersweet tale of Astrophil, whose name signifies his love for stars, and his beloved Stella, whose name means "star" in Latin. Considered one of the earliest and most famous English sonnet sequences, Astrophil and Stella had a significant impact on subsequent writers such as Edmund Spenser and William Shakespeare. Sidney skillfully adapted the key elements of his Italian inspiration, Petrarch, while also adding his own unique touch, resulting in a captivating and liberating piece of literature.