Searching for Juliet: The Lives and Deaths of Shakespeare's First Tragic Heroine

by Sophie Duncan

Who is Juliet Capulet?

Daughter of Verona
Lovestruck Teenager
Romantic Icon
Tragic Heroine
Rebel

Searching for Juliet takes us from the Renaissance origin stories behind Shakespeare's child bride to enslaved people in the Caribbean, Italian fascists in Verona, and real-life lovers in Afghanistan. From the Victorian stage to 1960s cinema, Baz Luhrmann, and beyond. Drawing on rich cultural and historical sources and new research, Sophie Duncan shows us why Juliet is for now, for ever, for everyone.

Genres: Nonfiction, Shakespeare, History

376 pages, Kindle Edition

Published April 6, 2023

Reviews

[India (IndiaReadsALot)]

First book of 2026 completed!!

[clare moggach]

loved this! super fascinating and insightful!

[Morgan (AnAverageReader)]

I am SO proud of myself for reading this book! If you know me (or just go through my goodreads), I don’t often read nonfiction. Also, I’m not the biggest Shakespeare fan. However, after living in England for awhile in 2023 during which I visited the sites, read a play, and watched Romeo and Juliet performed at Cambridge, I really was looking forward to diving into this book and learning more about the character of Juliet.

It may have taken me 6 months to finish, but this book was truly fantastic. It was so intriguing how the author studied different versions of the play, adaptations, and real life examples. I definitely learned a lot and found myself being influenced to watch some of the film examples she gave.

Would highly recommend this book!

[Caitlin Baker]

‘If Romeo and Juliet is the story we tell ourselves about what it means to be young, passionate, and doomed,’ writes Sophie Duncan, ‘Juliet’s is the story we tell about what it means to be a young woman in love.’

Excellent.

The transition from being a play about love, to a play about hate is especially poignant.

[Charlotte]

The book starts in renaissance Italy with the origin stories of Juliet and then travels to Victorian London and beyond.

This was an interesting investigation into the origin of the original doomed lovers and Juliet herself. I really enjoyed the way the book moved from Italy and then focused on later retellings both on the stage and screen; a thoroughly enjoyable read.

Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for a copy of the novel in exchange for an honest review

[Carmen]

Thank you Sceptre Books for the advance proof!

Any book that takes Juliet seriously and knows that she is far smarter, more active, and ultimately tragically alone than Romeo is a winner to me. Sophie Duncan writes with scholarly rigour and deep enthusiasm and love for a character who has become, in many ways, the patron saint of youthful, passionate love. In an exploration of the way her name and character has been (mis)used as well as the many performers who brought her to life on stage - including her probable origins in comedic acting - the portrait that emerges is inquisitive, balanced, and remarkably empathetic to all its real and imaginary figures.

[Leticia]

Very much what I hoped it would be, turning the lens of Juliet onto some unexpected subjects in an original and enlightening way. I found the last two chapters slightly less compelling as the subjects seemed a little more expected, but I never stopped finding it all very interesting.

[Mason Van Gieson]

Witty, deeply insightful, well-cited and well-voiced. A genuinely rapturous discovery on every page. Inspired me as a theatre-maker to think anew not just on Juliet or Shakespeare but about my craft more broadly. This will be a repeat re-read for me.

[Niamh Doran]

this book was so interesting!! the chapter on slaves being named juliet and the chapter about fair verona were particularly fascinating. couldn’t recommend this book more highly

[jenny ☆]

review to come because WHEW i loved this book

[Patricia Wemstrom]

This is an amazing book, especially considering the amount of research the author has done. Her topics range from discussions of movies, actresses, plays based on R and J, to interpretations and topics brought up by the play at different periods in history.
Duncan reminds us of the historical appeal of a dead heroine, especially a dead white heroine. Even more, a young dead white heroine. She advocates at one point for inclusiveness in casting, “in terms of sex, gender identity, race, and disability.” I recently saw a production at American Players Theatre where Romeo was played by a deaf actor. He signed his lines, which were said aloud by other actors in the play.
There are many interesting pieces of information. Slaves were often given Shakespearean names, helping to destroy their African identity (but no Macbeths, and very few defrauded rulers whose rights are restored). Shakespeare did not actually specify a “balcony scene;” Juliet appears at a window. And of course, the mores of societies at various times, attitudes toward filial disobedience, sex, older actresses, gangs, crime, racism, all had their influence on productions of the play.
A minor quibble: Duncan seems a bit obsessed with Romeo’s killing of Tybalt, calling him a “murderer,” “her flawed and murderous man,” and “the play’s most violent character.” Tybalt had just killed Romeo’s best friend, Mercutio. Romeo, furious, challenges him. They fight and Tybalt is slain. Romeo immediately regrets his action, crying “O, I am Fortune’s fool!”
Also, there are times when the writing is confusing: clearer transitions or topic sentences might have helped. But all in all, a fascinating piece of work.

[Emily Hassan]

Searching For Juliet by Sophie Duncan is one of those rare books that appeal both to seasoned Shakespearean experts and complete newcomers to the genre. The book constitutes a thorough and incredibly well researched survey of Juliet’s many afterlives, ranging from the trials and tribulations of Victorian actresses to the tourist sites of Verona via Northern Ireland, Afghanistan and contemporary Oxford. Duncan deals both sensitively and unflinchingly with the darker elements of Juliet’s cultural history, including the appropriation of her legacy by the Nazis and the popularity of the name Juliet as a given name for enslaved people. That being said, the book is, in places, very funny and I particularly enjoyed reading about the letters addressed to Juliet by lovers all over the world. Overall, a really fascinating read that I would highly recommend.

[Amanda]

This was a wonderful examination of the character, legacy and power behind Shakespeare’s Juliet. Examining everything from her presence in the play, theatre and film depictions, links to slavery and colonialism, her impact on Verona itself, age in relation to the character and real life dubbed “Romeo and Juliet couples”, this is an incredible dive into a character and her cultural impact.

[Kae]

SO SO GOOD I CANT EVEN PUT IT INTO WORDS. definitely one of the most interesting books i’ve read this year and made so many good points on women, society and death and made me appreciate juliet as a character even more!!!!

[Katie Dufall]

Exactly my kind of non-fiction book, soo interesting and original

[Amy Drozdowicz]

Funny, clever, and capable of converting any Juliet denier (it’s me, I’m the Juliet denier).

[Olivia-Savannah]

If you are in any way a Shakespeare nerd like me, you need this book in your life!

Sophie Duncan has done her research 👏🏾 and distilled it into this book all about Juliet: various depictions of her, and how our perception of her position in the "greatest love story" has changed over time in terms of cultural significance and impact.

It was such a fun read and so so insightful. I may have studied this play twice in education, but I still learned so much from reading this.

My favourite chapters were: the first one, on the text and play itself. I saw it from angles I never had, learned lots of fun facts & about how it was likely depicted on the stage at first.

My second favourite chapter was on the 3 iconic film adaptions that continue to shape how people see and study Juliet and the play since them. West Side Story is my favourite musical ever and the 1968 Zeffirelli is my favourite adaption, so getting to learn how they came to be, behind the scenes and an analysis of how well they capture Juliet (and why they capture her the way they do) was kind of dreamy.

From the way we chronically call everything a R+J retelling, to Juliets in journalism, sexualising her character and sexism in contemporary depictions, to slaves renamed Juliet and film mementos in Verona -- Sophie Duncan has researched and thought of it ALL. And it was pure joy to read and soak in the knowledge she laid out for us.

[Sophia Mellink]

came for the shakespeare, stayed for the excellently insightful social commentary and history of theatrical tradition.

Sophie Duncan shows off her academic chops and writes a non-fiction that is fascinating and very insightful, and so rich in its nuanced understanding of Shakespeare's most-famous heroine. The storytelling here is fantastic. Credit is also due to the audiobook narrator, who did an excellent job with both the spoken Shakespeare and telling Duncan's story.

A must-read, or listen, to anyone who is a fan of Shakespeare, or Juliet Capulet. Really worthwhile.

[Lottie Henderson]

A fascinating look at how one role, one character can shift so much over time in the face of changing societal ideas and values. Well researched, and written (although academic, it's conversational and easy to understand), I did feel I was playing catch up at points purely because I hadn't heard of/seen all the adaptations referenced throughout, but there was enough explanation to pick it up.

[selina u.]

Alltid när jag känt mig ensam eller vilse, eller bara mer nyfiken i mitt sökande efter Julia på scenen, har jag vänt mig till den här boken. Och där har jag hittat ledtrådar, delad förståelse och svar. Perfekt bok för vem som helst som fascineras av Julias makt och vill förstå sig på den.

[Nuala Marshall]

A truly excellent read. Intriguing, insightful, funny, and with just the right amount of extremely articulate anger. As someone very much not a Shakespeare expert, I highly recommend it!

[Manic Booksy Dreamgirl]

Great non-fiction read. Some of it gave me pause for thought, lots to contemplate.

[Liz]

Such an interesting exploration of a character I thought I knew. Definitely recommend to any Shakespeare or just theatre fans.

[Hannah]

interesting!

[Dani✨]

3 | my fave chapter was fair verona - the analysis on fascist italy was 10/10!!!

[Diya]

I would highly recommend Chapter 3 to everyone who's interested on Shakespeare and the impact of his plays in the world

[Lucy Carlson]

I can’t shut up about this book—friends, beware, for any allusion or slight reference to this will set me off on a nonstop monologue about all things Juliet.

[Siobhan (sib_reads)]

the fair verona chapter was the shining star of this book - exploring juliet’s link to fascist italy was just *chefs kiss*

covers such broad topics and isn’t repetitive at all

some chapters stronger than others and it did fall off a bit for me in the last two, losing it half a star

3.5/5 drtc