‘SHALL I compare thee to a summer’s day . . . ?’ Shakespeare’s collection of Sonnets have become cherished as the greatest of love poems in English literature.

First published 400 years ago this month, they introduced such phrases as “the darling buds of May” and “remembrance of things past” to our language. Not to mention providing inspiration for generations of lovers to woo their sweethearts.

But, according to the University of Liverpool’s first Shakespeare scholar, Canon Gerald Henry Rendall, the masterpiece was actually written by the 17th Earl of Oxford, Edward de Vere.

Writing in the 1930s, Rendall donated his collection to the university, and now his works will be on display.

Katy Hooper, special collections librarian at the University’s Sydney Jones Library, said: “Rendall bequeathed his manuscript notes, correspondence and works on Shakespeare to the University’s library.

“The collection includes Rendall’s book – Shakespeare sonnets and Edward de Vere – which helped confirm Sigmund Freud’s belief that Shakespeare’s works were actually written by the 17th Earl of Oxford.”

Shakespeare’s sonnets deal with themes such as love, politics and mortality and are likely to have been written over a period of several years.