Romeo and Juliet

By William Shakespeare

Book Overview

The bestselling, authoritative Folger Shakespeare Library edition of Romeo and Juliet, the tragedy of star-crossed lovers, featuring Shakespeare's complete original text, expert annotations, scene-by-scene summaries, and trusted scholarship for students, teachers, and general readers.

For more than seventy years, the Folger Shakespeare Library editions have been the standard classroom and reading editions of Shakespeare's plays. Used in high schools, colleges, universities, and theaters around the world, each volume combines the complete original text with expert editorial guidance that makes Shakespeare's language more accessible while preserving every nuance of the play.

In Romeo and Juliet, Shakespeare creates a violent world, in which two young people fall in love. It is not simply that their families disapprove; the Montagues and the Capulets are engaged in a blood feud.

In this death-filled setting, the movement from love at first sight to the lovers' final union in death seems almost inevitable. And yet, this play set in an extraordinary world has become the quintessential story of young love. In part because of its exquisite language, it is easy to respond as if it were about all young lovers.

Whether you're reading Romeo and Juliet for school, teaching it in the classroom, preparing for AP English Literature, studying Shakespeare in college, performing the play, or simply returning to one of the greatest works of English literature, this edition provides the context and guidance to help you read Shakespeare with confidence.

This Folger Shakespeare Library edition includes:
Shakespeare's complete original text, carefully edited from the best early printed version of the play Clear explanatory notes conveniently placed on facing pages Scene-by-scene plot summaries for quick review and study An introduction to Shakespeare's language and dramatic style A guide to the play's most famous speeches, quotations, and memorable lines A scholarly introduction exploring the play's historical background, themes, characters, and enduring significance An essay by acclaimed Shakespeare scholar Gail Kern Paster Illustrations and images from the Folger Shakespeare Library's world-renowned collections An annotated guide for further reading and study

The Folger Shakespeare Library in Washington, DC, is home to the world's largest collection of Shakespeare's printed works and one of the world's leading centers for Shakespeare scholarship, performance, and education. Every Folger Shakespeare Library edition combines authoritative scholarship with practical classroom support, making it an ideal choice for students, educators, actors, book clubs, and anyone seeking an accessible, reliable edition of Shakespeare's original plays.

• Format: Paperback
• Language: English
• ISBN: 0743477111
• ISBN13: 9780743477116
• Release Date: January 2004
• Publisher: Simon & Schuster
• Length: 336 Pages
• Weight: 0.58 lbs.
• Dimensions: 1.0" x 4.3" x 6.8"
• Age Range: 12 to 17 years
• Grade Range: Grades 7 to 12

Customer Reviews

Great for Teaching "Romeo and Juliet"

This book has saved me more than once! I used it just the other day when teaching the famous balcony scene, "What's in a name....". Out textbook suggested having the students translating this particular passage into modern English, but gave no translation. So, I pulled out this book and it saved the day! I also suggested it to another teacher who was having the same problem. It would be nice if a school district would purchase these books for all of their students (with today's budgets, that won't happen). This book is well worth the money spent.

Romeo & Juliet

Romeo & Juliet takes place in Verona in Feudal times. In that times women weren't given any rights. They couldn't hold property or discuss with their husband. This is shown during the whole book. Another thing different from nowadays was the language. Shakespeare uses a language, which I can't understand. So, in some parts were I don't know what a word means, the book becomes boring. Shakespeare, in a way, wrote female characters more intelligent and reflective than male, which in those times, women were objects. The story has different little stories in it. For example; the quarrel between the Capulet's gang and the Montague's; the impossible love between Romeo and Juliet; the trouble that Romeo has in Verona after killing Tybalt; Juliet has to marry Paris but she doesn't want and discusses bravely against her father; these make the story more interesting and it attracts the reader until the end.

Romeo & Juliet - Dover Thrift Edition

For the cost of ..., you can own a copy of the world's greatestlove story: Romeo & Juliet. Made possible to own ... by the DoverThrift Edition line of books, this edition of Romeo & Juliet iscomplete and unabridged. Use this copy for your performance of theplay, for an English class when you have to buy (or want to buy) abook to have of your own to highlight and annotate as you wish, orsimply to read at your own leisure. The only downside of this editionis that there are no notes of any kind, so you have to throroughlyknow the play itself. Outside of that one setback, the book isdefinitely worth purchasing if you need it or want it, but don't wantto spend lots of money on a copy.