Customer Reviews

Romeo and Juliet (Folger Shakespeare Library)

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As an experienced high school English teacher, I always advise my students and their parents to purchase a Folger's edition of Shakespeare's plays. The notes, summaries, and other commentary serve the novice Shakespearean reader well and make the classical allusions and denotations of unfamiliar and common words and phrases from the Elizabethan age much easier for 21st Century readers to understand.

Two teenagers from rival families fall in love, marry secretly, and take their own lives rather than live without each other. Despite the teenage melodrama, "Romeo and Juliet" remains one of Shakespeare's most enduring and popular plays, even if it wasn't his best -- lots of death, teen lovers and enchanting dialogue.

In the city of Verona, the Montagues and Capulets are locked in a deadly feud. Then a Montague teen named Romeo, infatuated with a Capulet girl named Rosaline, sneaks into a party to see her.... but instead encounters another Capulet girl named Juliet, and the two immediately fall in love. Since their families hate each other, their love must be expressed in secret.

Hoping to unite the two families, the kindly priest Friar Lawrence assists the two in marrying in secret. But then Juliet's cousin Tybalt challenges Romeo to a duel, leading to the death of two men -- and Romeo's exile from Verona. Even worse, the Capulets have decided to marry Juliet to Count Paris -- leading to a desperate plan that goes horribly awry.

"Romeo and Juliet" is a play that is hard to pin down -- some see it as the poetry-laden embodiment of romantic love, while others view it as Shakespeare's witty jabs at fickle teenage infatuation and how melodramatic the kids are (Juliet is only thirteen!). But whatever you think it is, it's undeniable that it's a beautifully written, often-wrenching story.

Despite the simplicity of the story, Shakespeare spins it in a silken web of lush poetry ("O swear not by the moon, the inconstant moon/That monthly changes in her circled orb") and the famous speeches where Romeo and Juliet speak at night on a balcony. The mostly romantic play takes a dark turn towards the end, when only a few minutes might have changed the fates of "Juliet and her Romeo."

And Shakespeare seems rather fond of his characters here, depicting Romeo as a passionate young boy and Juliet as rather sweetly insecure young girl; there's also a fairly good cast of young men whose spirits are more elevated than their brains, and the kindly friar who rather naively hopes to use the kids to create peace.

But Shakespeare was also clearly aware that passionate teenage love is not necessarily the truest love ("Young men's love then lies/Not truly in their hearts, but in their eyes"), and leaves you wondering what might have happened if Romeo and Juliet had lived.

Whether a gentle mockery of young love or a passionate, idealized romance, "Romeo and Juliet" is a timeless and lovely little play. Not the best of the Bard, but still quite good.

A new job for the summer, kids I know nothing about and Romeo and Juliet is the book I choose for summer reading. So far the kids are enjoying it although many of the words are above their heads. We may not get through it with all the other stuff we have to do but at least they'll have been exposed to one of the greatest love stories of all time.

There are 2 versions of this book available on Amazon. The other version looks identical in the picture but if you look inside, it isn't. This one does not have the "translation" of Shakespeare on the left page, which is what most high school students need. If you want the notes, get the other book.

We purchased two separate versions of Romeo and Juliet, one without the additional analysis and one with.
Folger's version was very beneficial for my son and his school project related to the play.
How they contributed to the play was educational, clear, and brought real depth to a classic.

I enjoyed this presentation of Romeo and Juliet. It has been a challenge to find supplimental material to help my students understand and appreciate the drama and humor in this fine work of art. I often begin with an adapted version of the tale for my young readers. Visit [...] to review. L Heflick

I think this book is good if you understand the deeper meaning within, many people in my College-Prep English class did not fully read and understand it, therefore they didn't like it. This book includes notes and a glossary on one side with the play on the other. I truely suggest this book to all those freshman who are reading this book.

Ordered this book since it was required reading for my freshman son. It was exactly what the teacher requested. Shipping was fast and book was in good shape. Thanks!