This ordering of Sh. Sonnets. mainly follows the 1609 Quarto ( Q ). version published by Thomas Thorpe ( T.T.).
I indicate those S. which I feel belong together in pairs, triplets etc. in an index after the series.

There is much speculation as to their true ordering, almost as much speculation as there is to their authorship.
I opt for the simplest solution, i.e. Sh. wrote them and the publisher ordered them as he found them in the original manuscript.
My most obvious regret is that the original Sonnets are nowhere extant.
I assume the Quartos printed derive from the original manuscript.

Here is a quick breakdown of their 'narrative' and 'thematic' content from which many contradictory theories derive:

• Q1-17 deal with beauty`s preservation through procreation or poetry.
  
• Q18-32 deal with patronage and the contrast between real and painted beauty.
  
• Q33-42 deal with seperation from the the beloved and betrayal.
  
• Q43-58 deal with pairs, eyes and shadows.
  
• Q59-75 deal with the effects of Time and a critical look at the FYM.
  
• Q76-96 deal with and examine jealousy and unworthiness.
  
• Q97-108 deal with the poet`s absence from the FYM.
  
• Q109-126 deal with the poet summing up his relationship with the FYM.
  
• Q127-152 deal with the poet`s other irritating relationship with the DL.
  
• Q153-154deal with closing the entire series of sonnets epigrammatically.