O, Juliet

by Robin Maxwell

Book Overview

Before Juliet Capelletti lie two futures: a traditionally loveless marriage to her father's business partner, or the fulfillment of her poetic dreams, inspired by the great Dante. Unlike her beloved... This description may be from another edition of this product.

• Format: Paperback
• Language: English
• ISBN: 0451229150
• ISBN13: 9780451229151
• Release Date: February 2010
• Publisher: Berkley
• Length: 352 Pages
• Weight: 0.70 lbs.
• Dimensions: 8.3" x 0.8" x 5.6"
• Age Range: 18 years and up
• Grade Range: Grade 12 and higher

Customer Reviews

Allie's Review - Hist-Fic Chick

O, Juliet is a sweeping historical novel based on Shakespeare's Romeo and Juliet, the most beloved and romantic couple in literary history. Robin Maxwell, author of historical fiction (The Secret Diary of Anne Boleyn, Signora da Vinci, among others) weaves this rich and compelling tale into novel form for the first time in history, making the Bard's classic play accessible to today's audiences. Releasing in stores 2/2/10, hopeless romantics everywhere will be delighted to receive O, Juliet as a gift for Valentine's Day. The cover alone is enough to stop you in your tracks - it is visually stunning with its lush and romantic flowers cascading over a marble balcony, followed by a second inside cover that features Dicksee's famous painting of Romeo and Juliet. As for the book's content, I myself will borrow from Avonian Willie and liken it to "a rich jewel in an Ethiope's ear". While I don't think the author had any intention of competing with Shakespeare, but rather, celebrating his work in honorable tribute, Maxwell's version of the classic play runs prettily on the pages using the master's rendition as an outline. The author has filled in the gaps of Shakespeare's story with fluid historic details surrounding the emergence of Renaissance Florence, which give the couple greater roots from which to stem their story. While Shakespeare's lovers were a few years younger, full of lust and tragically whimsical flights of fancy, Maxwell's Romeo and Juliet are lustful still yet more rational, risking all for love but with better reason: Juliet is to be married off to her father's vile and malignant business partner, Jacopo Strozzi (the Strozzi were a powerful Florentine family, though the author's note at the end states that Jacopo was a figment of her imagination). The uniting thread between the lovers that makes their adulation for one another all the more evident throughout the story is their mutual adoration of the poet Dante Alighieri, who among many great works wrote La Vita Nuova, recounting his love for a woman named Beatrice. Maxwell draws parallels between Beatrice and Dante's tragic love story with that of Romeo and Juliet, bringing the romantic aspect of this story to a whole other level with the recitation of quotations from Dante running through the novel. Not only do Romeo and Juliet admire Dante's poetry, but they themselves are aspiring poets, something that adds another spark to the fire of their passion for each other. This history of O, Juliet is what I found most interesting and unique in comparison to Shakespeare's portrayal of the lovers. Maxwell has seamlessly woven in true historic political intrigue that explains the centuries-old feud between the Monticeccos and Capelettis (Montagues and Capulets from Romeo and Juliet), putting the warring families into greater historical context. "Fair Verona" is not where Maxwell lays her scene; she has instead opted for Florence - an arguably controversial choice, but one that fits this sto

Lizzy "Historically Obsessed"

O, Juliet, oh oh Juliet. The passionate lovers tale of the greatest love story ever told. Robin's tale of O, Juliet was woven in the stars of time leaving a lasting impression on the heart of every book lover it comes into contact with. The devourer of books that I have become I found that I had to hold back on this read because I did not want it to end. Robin has more than breathed new life into a classic love story she exceeded my highest expectations in tackling this tale of Juliet and her lover Romeo. Hopefully this book will be able to inspire a whole new generation of Romeo and Juliet lovers. Almost every breathing human being has at one point or another in their life heard the tragic story of Romeo and Juliet's romantic love affair. Even though we all know the eventual demise of the love stuck couple is inevitable. It is not the ending that matters it is how they get to the end that makes all the difference. After finishing I awoke the next morning my mind was a blaze with thoughts of Romeo and Juliet. A creativity whirlwind kicked up making to where the only way I could calm my thirst for more was to listen to the 1996 Romeo and Juliet soundtrack . In my listening I was drawn to pen and paper, furiously, more like frantically putting my thoughts to paper. At one point my husband, sitting across from me was waving his arms to get my attention. Lets just say he was at it for about ten minutes before I even looked up. Juliet Capelletti a 18 year old poetic, heartfelt dreamer, her inspiration came from the formidable Dante himself. Ah but you say women were not typically educated in this time period? Fate would have it that her best friend Lucrezia (Lorenzo's mother from signora da vinci) was to be married to Piero De Medici, son of Cosimo De Medici. It has been said that Cosimo was the sole person responsible for the Renaissance that had swept the known world at the time. Believing in education, the fine arts, and since Lucrezia was to become a De Medici she had to be an educated upstanding lady. Lucrezia beseeches Cosimo to allow Juliet the same education . After their many years of education Juliet had found her one true passion in life was poetry, specializing in Dante's works. Keeping her talent for verse hidden deep with in her soul, Lucrezia was the only one who knew of her secret love affair with poetry. To announce the engagement of Lucrezia to Piero there was to be a masked ball held at the De Medici household. The two girls donned their feather masks and made a grand entrance to the party. Proving to be an interesting gathering with Juliet's mother keeping close tabs on her and her fathers angry glare always searching for her. Juliet was not at all pleased about her soon to be betrothal to her fathers new business partner Jacob Strozzi. A despicable human he was, a man ruled by his tyrant mother, lacking in the belief of a woman's capabilities. At one point he even went so far as to state that Juliet's education had ruined her an

A Wonderful New Tale of Romeo and Juliet

O, Juliet tells the classic tale of Romeo and Juliet - but this isn't Shakespeare's Romeo and Juliet! Juliet Cappelletti is the daughter of a silk merchant in Florence. Romeo Monticecco is the son of rural olive growers. Juliet is to be married to the wealthy partner in her father's silk factory. When her path crosses with Romeo she knows that she can't just settle for the uncomfortable, sour life that is planned for her. She must be able to choose what her heart wants! The Shakespeare version of Romeo and Juliet always just left me half fulfilled - that is not something I can say about O, Juliet! Maxwell does a phenomenal job at creating the world around our heroes. Florence is described in vivid detail - the famous sites, artists/artwork, and cultural practices. I didn't even mind that the setting wasn't the traditional Verona because the world was so well developed. Many of the characters that surround the Cappelletti's and Monticecco's are well known historical figures: Cosimo d'Medici, Lucrezia Tournabuoni, Dante. Set into the historical context makes this story so much more convincing and makes the fictional characters feel alive and real. The emotions and passions of the characters are palpable. They have thoughts and concerns other than just the love story. There are the concerns of Juliet's father's silk business, politics in Florence, religious concerns. We learn that Juliet writes poetry - something that wasn't looked upon in a great light in those days. She is a strong willed young woman whose thoughts are ahead of her time. Every character is unique and fits neatly into the historical folds of Florence. This novel has really made me love the story of Romeo and Juliet. In my opinion, this version blows any other out of the water. I didn't get dragged down by trying to understand the poetic way of speaking. There is a real depth to the characters, setting, and story line. Even when you know the story of Romeo and Juliet there are many twists and turns that reveal so much more to you. Truly a delightful read and the only negative thing I could say about this is that I wish it were longer and the story would go on and on! Maxwell has done it again!

A TOUCHING ADAPTATION

Oh.. my heart, my heart!! Sweet torment of love! This was a riveting story that had me on the edge of my seat, and still, it was a love story that we all think we know. I have learned that there are mixed feelings about this novel.. this is to be expected when this is a retelling of an age-old story, told many ways before... I agree that this story idea is not a new one, and perhaps Maxwell's writing is not what others would think of as five star material, but I am going with my gut instinct on this read, and awarding it the coveted five stars because of the way I felt when I was through reading it. I was not as disappointed as other reviewers were; I had no high expectations for this one; I couldn't put it down; I loved every word of it; I was emotionally drained after going through all of the tragic events; and I was still surprised and heartsick at the ending, which stayed with me in my heart for days after reading this novel. I am not a voracious romance reader, and this filled that void. So .. flog me. Robin Maxwell has written successful novels focusing on Tudor England previously and has repeated her recent Signora Da Vinci setting and brought her readers into Italy; this time we are in Florence, even though traditional Romeo and Juliet fans would disagree on this location (LUCY!). Robin Maxwell rewrites Shakespeare's beloved Romeo and Juliet tale with her fabulously eloquent prose, allowing the average non-Shakespearean-expert to sit back and relish this story as Shakespeare meant it to be enjoyed. Even though these are the same characters, with the same idea of forbidden love, Maxwell writes a cohesively understandable story of two families: Cappelleti and Monticecco (as opposed to Shakespeare's Capulet and Montague) who each have two young members of the family who irrevocably fall in love with each other. Yes ~ it is the same story... rewritten in a modern sense, and those looking for some unknown insight into the original Shakespearean story may be disappointed. Much like the original, there is a marriage celebration and masked dancing where Romeo and Juliet meet for the first time. They are immediately attracted to each other as the two star-crossed lovers share a love of words, especially Dante's poetic verse, and they banter back and forth with the elegant quotes. Their love springs eternal, and we are swept up immediately in this ardent romance as we hope and pray that they will not have a tragic ending that we know Shakespeare has written. Their love for each other even inspires Juliet to write poetically of thoughts of her Romeo, which was something unusual for a woman in her day. She is hopelessly caught between a family responsibility to solidify her father's silk business by marrying Jacopo Strozzi, her father's soon-to-be-partner. Of course, Juliet wants nothing of Jacopo, he is an older man with no qualities of virtue and is quite unattractive. Juliet realizes he is dangerous as well, especially as Jacopo also sees throug

A beautiful re-telling of Romeo and Juliet

I thoroughly enjoyed O, Juliet. Robin Maxwell's fictional account of the story of Romeo and Juliet shows their story through Juliet's eyes. We all know the story - the lovers are from families who are sworn enemies. In this re-telling, Romeo wants to make peace between their feuding fathers. He meets Juliet while attempting to negotiate peace with one of the most powerful men of their city - someone he believes can talk sense into his father. From the moment they meet, Romeo and Juliet are drawn to each other in a powerful way. You may know the ending to this famous story, but in this case the character's journey is what counts. There are a few 'adult moments,' and while unnecessary, they don't detract from the story. Maxwell has penned a beautiful love story that will draw you in - and make you wish she could change the ending. :)