Romeo and Juliet

An Apple Books Classic edition.

Shakespeare’s romantic tragedy has inspired musicals, ballets, operas, and, of course, countless movies, including Italian director Franco Zeffirelli’s 1968 classic and Australian director Baz Luhrmann’s stylish remake starring Leonardo DiCaprio and Claire Danes. The Bard’s play is so fundamental to our culture-and to the popular trope of star-crossed lovers-that we all feel like we know the story of Romeo and Juliet’s doomed love affair.

And yet, have you ever read the original? And if yes, perchance was it a long, long time ago? The beautiful lyricism of Shakespeare’s storytelling makes poring over his words such a complex treat:

What light in yonder window breaks?

Parting is such sweet sorrow.

O Romeo, Romeo, wherefore art thou Romeo?

These are just a few of the play’s immortal lines. And it’s this masterful storytelling that makes the doomed lovers’ untimely deaths that much more poignant.