diff --git a/include/xlnt/cell/text.hpp b/include/xlnt/cell/text.hpp
index 33dd9395..d1bc66b0 100644
--- a/include/xlnt/cell/text.hpp
+++ b/include/xlnt/cell/text.hpp
@@ -38,9 +38,11 @@ public:
 	void clear();
 	void set_plain_string(const std::string &s);
 	std::string get_plain_string() const;
-	std::vector<text_run> get_runs();
+	std::vector<text_run> get_runs() const;
 	void add_run(const text_run &t);
 	void set_run(const std::vector<text_run> &parts);
+    
+    bool operator==(const text &rhs) const;
 
 private:
 	std::vector<text_run> runs_;
diff --git a/include/xlnt/cell/text_run.hpp b/include/xlnt/cell/text_run.hpp
index 68d456c8..24337d2f 100644
--- a/include/xlnt/cell/text_run.hpp
+++ b/include/xlnt/cell/text_run.hpp
@@ -33,12 +33,26 @@ class XLNT_CLASS text_run
 public:
 	text_run();
 	text_run(const std::string &string);
+    
+    bool has_formatting() const;
 
 	std::string get_string() const;
 	void set_string(const std::string &string);
+    
+    std::size_t get_size() const;
+    std::string get_color() const;
+    std::string get_font() const;
+    std::size_t get_family() const;
+    std::string get_scheme() const;
 
 private:
 	std::string string_;
+    bool has_formatting_ = false;
+    std::size_t size_;
+    std::string color_;
+    std::string font_;
+    std::size_t family_;
+    std::string scheme_;
 };
 
 } // namespace xlnt
diff --git a/include/xlnt/serialization/shared_strings_serializer.hpp b/include/xlnt/serialization/shared_strings_serializer.hpp
index 2a405c69..8ced3b37 100644
--- a/include/xlnt/serialization/shared_strings_serializer.hpp
+++ b/include/xlnt/serialization/shared_strings_serializer.hpp
@@ -23,13 +23,13 @@
 // @author: see AUTHORS file
 #pragma once
 
-#include <string>
 #include <vector>
 
 #include <xlnt/xlnt_config.hpp>
 
 namespace xlnt {
 
+class text;
 class xml_document;
 
 /// <summary>
@@ -38,8 +38,8 @@ class xml_document;
 class XLNT_CLASS shared_strings_serializer
 {
 public:
-    static bool read_shared_strings(const xml_document &xml, std::vector<std::string> &strings);
-    static xml_document write_shared_strings(const std::vector<std::string> &strings);
+    static bool read_shared_strings(const xml_document &xml, std::vector<text> &strings);
+    static xml_document write_shared_strings(const std::vector<text> &strings);
 };
 
 } // namespace xlnt
diff --git a/include/xlnt/workbook/workbook.hpp b/include/xlnt/workbook/workbook.hpp
index 10b7429c..0351adfd 100644
--- a/include/xlnt/workbook/workbook.hpp
+++ b/include/xlnt/workbook/workbook.hpp
@@ -54,6 +54,7 @@ class range;
 class range_reference;
 class relationship;
 class style;
+class text;
 class theme;
 class worksheet;
 class worksheet_iterator;
@@ -202,9 +203,9 @@ public:
 
     const std::vector<relationship> &get_root_relationships() const;
 
-    void add_shared_string(const std::string &shared, bool allow_duplicates=false);
-    std::vector<std::string> &get_shared_strings();
-    const std::vector<std::string> &get_shared_strings() const;
+    void add_shared_string(const text &shared, bool allow_duplicates=false);
+    std::vector<text> &get_shared_strings();
+    const std::vector<text> &get_shared_strings() const;
     
     void set_thumbnail(const std::vector<std::uint8_t> &thumbnail);
     const std::vector<std::uint8_t> &get_thumbnail() const;
diff --git a/source/cell/cell.cpp b/source/cell/cell.cpp
index c0369653..e77052d0 100644
--- a/source/cell/cell.cpp
+++ b/source/cell/cell.cpp
@@ -335,18 +335,6 @@ XLNT_FUNCTION void cell::set_value(long double d)
     d_->type_ = type::numeric;
 }
 
-template <>
-XLNT_FUNCTION void cell::set_value(text t)
-{
-	d_->value_text_ = t;
-	d_->type_ = type::string;
-
-	if (!t.get_plain_string().empty())
-	{
-		get_workbook().add_shared_string(t.get_plain_string());
-	}
-}
-
 template <>
 XLNT_FUNCTION void cell::set_value(std::string s)
 {
@@ -363,9 +351,13 @@ XLNT_FUNCTION void cell::set_value(std::string s)
 	}
 	else
 	{
-		text t;
-		t.set_plain_string(s);
-		set_value(t);
+		d_->type_ = type::string;
+        d_->value_text_.set_plain_string(s);
+        
+        if (s.size() > 0)
+        {
+            get_workbook().add_shared_string(d_->value_text_);
+        }
 	}
 
 	if (get_workbook().get_guess_types())
@@ -374,6 +366,21 @@ XLNT_FUNCTION void cell::set_value(std::string s)
 	}
 }
 
+template <>
+XLNT_FUNCTION void cell::set_value(text t)
+{
+    if (t.get_runs().size() == 1 && !t.get_runs().front().has_formatting())
+    {
+        set_value(t.get_plain_string());
+    }
+    else
+    {
+        d_->type_ = type::string;
+        d_->value_text_ = t;
+        get_workbook().add_shared_string(t);
+    }
+}
+
 template <>
 XLNT_FUNCTION void cell::set_value(char const *c)
 {
@@ -927,6 +934,12 @@ XLNT_FUNCTION std::string cell::get_value() const
     return d_->value_text_.get_plain_string();
 }
 
+template <>
+XLNT_FUNCTION text cell::get_value() const
+{
+    return d_->value_text_;
+}
+
 bool cell::has_value() const
 {
     return d_->type_ != cell::type::null;
diff --git a/source/cell/text.cpp b/source/cell/text.cpp
index da62331d..43a524c2 100644
--- a/source/cell/text.cpp
+++ b/source/cell/text.cpp
@@ -49,7 +49,8 @@ std::string text::get_plain_string() const
 
 	return plain_string;
 }
-std::vector<text_run> text::get_runs()
+
+std::vector<text_run> text::get_runs() const
 {
 	return runs_;
 }
@@ -59,4 +60,26 @@ void text::add_run(const text_run &t)
 	runs_.push_back(t);
 }
 
+bool text::operator==(const text &rhs) const
+{
+    if (runs_.size() != rhs.runs_.size()) return false;
+    
+    for (std::size_t i = 0; i < runs_.size(); i++)
+    {
+        if (runs_[i].get_string() != rhs.runs_[i].get_string()) return false;
+        if (runs_[i].has_formatting() != rhs.runs_[i].has_formatting()) return false;
+        
+        if (runs_[i].has_formatting())
+        {
+            if (runs_[i].get_color() != rhs.runs_[i].get_color()) return false;
+            if (runs_[i].get_family() != rhs.runs_[i].get_family()) return false;
+            if (runs_[i].get_font() != rhs.runs_[i].get_font()) return false;
+            if (runs_[i].get_scheme() != rhs.runs_[i].get_scheme()) return false;
+            if (runs_[i].get_size() != rhs.runs_[i].get_size()) return false;
+        }
+    }
+    
+    return true;
+}
+
 } // namespace xlnt
diff --git a/source/cell/text_run.cpp b/source/cell/text_run.cpp
index 05c5ccf0..3c0c77aa 100644
--- a/source/cell/text_run.cpp
+++ b/source/cell/text_run.cpp
@@ -43,4 +43,34 @@ void text_run::set_string(const std::string &string)
 	string_ = string;
 }
 
+bool text_run::has_formatting() const
+{
+    return has_formatting_;
+}
+
+std::size_t text_run::get_size() const
+{
+    return size_;
+}
+
+std::string text_run::get_color() const
+{
+    return color_;
+}
+
+std::string text_run::get_font() const
+{
+    return font_;
+}
+
+std::size_t text_run::get_family() const
+{
+    return family_;
+}
+
+std::string text_run::get_scheme() const
+{
+    return scheme_;
+}
+
 } // namespace xlnt
diff --git a/source/detail/workbook_impl.hpp b/source/detail/workbook_impl.hpp
index 4f481f35..fce6fc34 100644
--- a/source/detail/workbook_impl.hpp
+++ b/source/detail/workbook_impl.hpp
@@ -75,7 +75,7 @@ struct workbook_impl
     std::vector<worksheet_impl> worksheets_;
     std::vector<relationship> relationships_;
     std::vector<relationship> root_relationships_;
-    std::vector<std::string> shared_strings_;
+    std::vector<text> shared_strings_;
 
     document_properties properties_;
     app_properties app_properties_;
diff --git a/source/serialization/excel_serializer.cpp b/source/serialization/excel_serializer.cpp
index b9ee7b76..fb2c6ae5 100644
--- a/source/serialization/excel_serializer.cpp
+++ b/source/serialization/excel_serializer.cpp
@@ -24,6 +24,7 @@
 #include <algorithm>
 #include <iterator>
 
+#include <xlnt/cell/text.hpp>
 #include <xlnt/serialization/excel_serializer.hpp>
 #include <xlnt/serialization/manifest_serializer.hpp>
 #include <xlnt/serialization/relationship_serializer.hpp>
@@ -125,12 +126,12 @@ bool load_workbook(xlnt::zip_file &archive, bool guess_types, bool data_only, xl
 
     if(archive.has_file(xlnt::constants::ArcSharedString()))
     {
-        std::vector<std::string> shared_strings;
+        std::vector<xlnt::text> shared_strings;
 		xlnt::xml_document shared_strings_xml;
 		shared_strings_xml.from_string(archive.read(xlnt::constants::ArcSharedString()));
 		xlnt::shared_strings_serializer::read_shared_strings(shared_strings_xml, shared_strings);
 
-        for (auto shared_string : shared_strings)
+        for (auto &shared_string : shared_strings)
         {
             wb.add_shared_string(shared_string, true);
         }
diff --git a/source/serialization/shared_strings_serializer.cpp b/source/serialization/shared_strings_serializer.cpp
index 9afce1f5..e50eb654 100644
--- a/source/serialization/shared_strings_serializer.cpp
+++ b/source/serialization/shared_strings_serializer.cpp
@@ -21,13 +21,15 @@
 //
 // @license: http://www.opensource.org/licenses/mit-license.php
 // @author: see AUTHORS file
+
 #include <xlnt/serialization/shared_strings_serializer.hpp>
+#include <xlnt/cell/text.hpp>
 #include <xlnt/serialization/xml_document.hpp>
 #include <xlnt/serialization/xml_node.hpp>
 
 namespace xlnt {
 
-xml_document shared_strings_serializer::write_shared_strings(const std::vector<std::string> &strings)
+xml_document shared_strings_serializer::write_shared_strings(const std::vector<text> &strings)
 {
     xml_document xml;
 
@@ -39,13 +41,38 @@ xml_document shared_strings_serializer::write_shared_strings(const std::vector<s
 
     for (const auto &string : strings)
     {
-        root_node.add_child("si").add_child("t").set_text(string);
+        if (string.get_runs().size() == 1 && !string.get_runs().at(0).has_formatting())
+        {
+            root_node.add_child("si").add_child("t").set_text(string.get_plain_string());
+        }
+        else
+        {
+            for (const auto &run : string.get_runs())
+            {
+                auto string_item_node = root_node.add_child("si");
+                auto rich_text_run_node = string_item_node.add_child("r");
+                
+                auto text_node = rich_text_run_node.add_child("t");
+                text_node.set_text(run.get_string());
+                
+                if (run.has_formatting())
+                {
+                    auto run_properties_node = rich_text_run_node.add_child("rPr");
+                    
+                    run_properties_node.add_child("sz").add_attribute("val", std::to_string(run.get_size()));
+                    run_properties_node.add_child("color").add_attribute("rgb", run.get_color());
+                    run_properties_node.add_child("rFont").add_attribute("val", run.get_font());
+                    run_properties_node.add_child("family").add_attribute("val", std::to_string(run.get_family()));
+                    run_properties_node.add_child("scheme").add_attribute("val", run.get_scheme());
+                }
+            }
+        }
     }
 
     return xml;
 }
 
-bool shared_strings_serializer::read_shared_strings(const xml_document &xml, std::vector<std::string> &strings)
+bool shared_strings_serializer::read_shared_strings(const xml_document &xml, std::vector<text> &strings)
 {
     strings.clear();
 
@@ -57,28 +84,34 @@ bool shared_strings_serializer::read_shared_strings(const xml_document &xml, std
         unique_count = std::stoull(root_node.get_attribute("uniqueCount"));
     }
 
-    for (const auto &si_node : root_node.get_children())
+    for (const auto &string_item_node : root_node.get_children())
     {
-        if (si_node.get_name() != "si")
+        if (string_item_node.get_name() != "si")
         {
             continue;
         }
 
-        if (si_node.has_child("t"))
+        if (string_item_node.has_child("t"))
         {
-            strings.push_back(si_node.get_child("t").get_text());
+            text t;
+            t.set_plain_string(string_item_node.get_child("t").get_text());
+            strings.push_back(t);
         }
-        else if (si_node.has_child("r")) // possible multiple text entities.
+        else if (string_item_node.has_child("r")) // possible multiple text entities.
         {
-            std::string text;
-            for (const auto& r_node : si_node.get_children())
+            text t;
+            
+            for (const auto& rich_text_run_node : string_item_node.get_children())
             {
-                if (r_node.get_name() == "r" && r_node.has_child("t"))
+                if (rich_text_run_node.get_name() == "r" && rich_text_run_node.has_child("t"))
                 {
-                    text += r_node.get_child("t").get_text();
+                    text_run run;
+                    run.set_string(rich_text_run_node.get_child("t").get_text());
+                    t.add_run(run);
                 }
             }
-            strings.push_back(std::move(text));
+            
+            strings.push_back(t);
         }
     }
 
diff --git a/source/serialization/tests/test_write.hpp b/source/serialization/tests/test_write.hpp
index becedac3..5d6f9416 100644
--- a/source/serialization/tests/test_write.hpp
+++ b/source/serialization/tests/test_write.hpp
@@ -73,7 +73,7 @@ public:
         ws.get_cell("A3").set_value("nice");
         
         auto content = xlnt::shared_strings_serializer::write_shared_strings(wb.get_shared_strings());
-        
+
         TS_ASSERT(Helper::compare_xml(PathHelper::GetDataDirectory() + "/writer/expected/sharedStrings.xml", content));
     }
 
@@ -220,7 +220,7 @@ public:
 
         xlnt::worksheet_serializer serializer(ws);
         auto observed = serializer.write_worksheet();
-        
+        auto temp = observed.to_string();
         TS_ASSERT(Helper::compare_xml(PathHelper::GetDataDirectory() + "/writer/expected/sheet1_freeze_panes_horiz.xml", observed));
     }
 
diff --git a/source/serialization/worksheet_serializer.cpp b/source/serialization/worksheet_serializer.cpp
index 69bdaedd..5f417d0d 100644
--- a/source/serialization/worksheet_serializer.cpp
+++ b/source/serialization/worksheet_serializer.cpp
@@ -28,6 +28,7 @@
 #include <xlnt/serialization/worksheet_serializer.hpp>
 #include <xlnt/cell/cell.hpp>
 #include <xlnt/cell/cell_reference.hpp>
+#include <xlnt/cell/text.hpp>
 #include <xlnt/serialization/xml_document.hpp>
 #include <xlnt/serialization/xml_node.hpp>
 #include <xlnt/workbook/workbook.hpp>
@@ -438,7 +439,7 @@ xml_document worksheet_serializer::write_worksheet() const
 
                     for (std::size_t i = 0; i < shared_strings.size(); i++)
                     {
-                        if (shared_strings[i] == cell.get_value<std::string>())
+                        if (shared_strings[i] == cell.get_value<text>())
                         {
                             match_index = static_cast<int>(i);
                             break;
diff --git a/source/workbook/workbook.cpp b/source/workbook/workbook.cpp
index a92f4e42..ef6f6eb8 100644
--- a/source/workbook/workbook.cpp
+++ b/source/workbook/workbook.cpp
@@ -685,17 +685,17 @@ const std::vector<relationship> &workbook::get_root_relationships() const
     return d_->root_relationships_;
 }
 
-std::vector<std::string> &workbook::get_shared_strings()
+std::vector<text> &workbook::get_shared_strings()
 {
     return d_->shared_strings_;
 }
 
-const std::vector<std::string> &workbook::get_shared_strings() const
+const std::vector<text> &workbook::get_shared_strings() const
 {
     return d_->shared_strings_;
 }
 
-void workbook::add_shared_string(const std::string &shared, bool allow_duplicates)
+void workbook::add_shared_string(const text &shared, bool allow_duplicates)
 {
 	if (!allow_duplicates)
 	{