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Juliet's Nurse
An enthralling new telling of Shakespeare’s Romeo and Juliet—told from the perspective of Juliet’s nurse.
In Verona, a city ravaged by plague and political rivalries, a mother mourning the death of her day-old infant enters the household of the powerful Cappelletti family to become the wet-nurse to their newborn baby. As she serves her beloved Juliet over the next fourteen years, the nurse learns the Cappellettis’ darkest secrets. Those secrets—and the nurse’s deep personal grief—erupt across five momentous days of love and loss that destroy a daughter, and a family.
By turns sensual, tragic, and comic, Juliet’s Nurse gives voice to one of literature’s most memorable and distinctive characters, a woman who was both insider and outsider among Verona’s wealthy ruling class. Exploring the romance and intrigue of interwoven loyalties, rivalries, jealousies, and losses only hinted at in Shakespeare’s play, this is a never-before-heard tale of the deepest love in Verona—the love between a grieving woman and the precious child of her heart.
In the tradition of Sarah Dunant, Philippa Gregory, and Geraldine Brooks, Juliet’s Nurse is a rich prequel that reimagines the world’s most cherished tale of love and loss, suffering and survival.
In Verona, a city ravaged by plague and political rivalries, a mother mourning the death of her day-old infant enters the household of the powerful Cappelletti family to become the wet-nurse to their newborn baby. As she serves her beloved Juliet over the next fourteen years, the nurse learns the Cappellettis’ darkest secrets. Those secrets—and the nurse’s deep personal grief—erupt across five momentous days of love and loss that destroy a daughter, and a family.
By turns sensual, tragic, and comic, Juliet’s Nurse gives voice to one of literature’s most memorable and distinctive characters, a woman who was both insider and outsider among Verona’s wealthy ruling class. Exploring the romance and intrigue of interwoven loyalties, rivalries, jealousies, and losses only hinted at in Shakespeare’s play, this is a never-before-heard tale of the deepest love in Verona—the love between a grieving woman and the precious child of her heart.
In the tradition of Sarah Dunant, Philippa Gregory, and Geraldine Brooks, Juliet’s Nurse is a rich prequel that reimagines the world’s most cherished tale of love and loss, suffering and survival.
400 pages, Paperback
First published September 23, 2014
68 people are currently reading
4694 people want to read
About the author
Lois Leveen
4 books141 followersAward-winning author Lois Leveen dwells in the spaces where literature and history meet. A confirmed book geek, Lois earned degrees in history and literature from Harvard, the University of Southern California, and UCLA, and taught at UCLA and at Reed College. In addition to her novels JULIET'S NURSE and THE SECRETS OF MARY BOWSER, she has written for The New York Times, The Atlantic, the Chicago Tribune, the Los Angeles Review of Books, the Wall Street Journal, and her poetry and essays have appeared in numerous books, literary journals, and on NPR. Lois gives talks about history and literature at libraries, bookstores, universities, museums, teacher training programs, and conferences throughout the world. She lives in a bright green house in Portland, Oregon, with a charming, bipedal Newfoundlander.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 370 reviews
December 9, 2025
This is a well-written and enjoyable companion to the Shakespeare play with an imaginative but plausible backstory. It's always enjoyable to revisit an old favourite and the shift of focus from the two young lovers to another character gives the well-worn story new life.
Angelica's first person narrative is arresting and arouses the reader's sympathy. Her entrance into the Cappelletti family is quite believable although belief needs to be suspended at times, particularly in the book's final chapters - no spoilers, though!
What was infuriating was how her well crafted language and dialogue was unnecessarily removed once the 'Shakespeare' element of the story began. To have his same lines repeated by her characters virtually verbatim was a poor choice by author and editor - especially as I was looking forward to revisiting the play to line up the two versions in the near future. Now there doesn't seem much point as I feel as though I've just reread it!
Still a good read for R&J fans though and a useful addition to the adaptation canon.
Angelica's first person narrative is arresting and arouses the reader's sympathy. Her entrance into the Cappelletti family is quite believable although belief needs to be suspended at times, particularly in the book's final chapters - no spoilers, though!
What was infuriating was how her well crafted language and dialogue was unnecessarily removed once the 'Shakespeare' element of the story began. To have his same lines repeated by her characters virtually verbatim was a poor choice by author and editor - especially as I was looking forward to revisiting the play to line up the two versions in the near future. Now there doesn't seem much point as I feel as though I've just reread it!
Still a good read for R&J fans though and a useful addition to the adaptation canon.
July 25, 2014
The story of Romeo & Juliet's tragic romance is told from the wet-nurse's POV and offers a different (and more tragic) perspective from the over- romanticized tellings from the various movies.
I was hooked from start to finish and believe this is a readers' advisory librarian's dream recommendation--the story is very compelling, the setting of 14th century Verona, Italy, is vivid, the characters are brought to amazing life, and the language is exquisite (how can it not be if it's based on Shakespeare?), plus there is much to learn and investigate further. I can't wait to start recommending this to library patrons--oh heck, why wait? I'll just make sure it's on order and build some high anticipation.
Also, this perfect for older teen girls, especially those who have read (and perhaps wept over) R&J. I would also like to put this in the hands of every book group I know of.
I was hooked from start to finish and believe this is a readers' advisory librarian's dream recommendation--the story is very compelling, the setting of 14th century Verona, Italy, is vivid, the characters are brought to amazing life, and the language is exquisite (how can it not be if it's based on Shakespeare?), plus there is much to learn and investigate further. I can't wait to start recommending this to library patrons--oh heck, why wait? I'll just make sure it's on order and build some high anticipation.
Also, this perfect for older teen girls, especially those who have read (and perhaps wept over) R&J. I would also like to put this in the hands of every book group I know of.
June 14, 2018
This is the first book I've read by this author and right away I was impressed with her rare talent. The story, based on Shakespeare’s most famous play, is written with eloquent and vivid language. Through the eyes of a wet-nurse, we get to know the stories of two households, her and her employer. The stories are skillfully entwined.
The story is richly imagined with well-researched historical period of Middle Ages Verona. The time when love is only meant for poor; when rich women are the tools for giving birth to male babies. She also presents ‘the other side of the story’ of Juliet’s cousin, what it means for a young boy to lose his mother, while she was giving a birth to another child.
The author paints beautifully a picture of a woman, who is busy with household choirs; which she doesn’t enjoy but must do, with no spare minute for herself. When time changes, with plenty time to spare, she starts missing her household, and then admits, “Hard as I’ve always had to work, I’ve never been any good at being idle.”
The story is spiced with medicinal herbs, honey comfit, needlework, customs and more. It has some twists and turns, which make the read very interesting.
@FB/BestHistoricalFiction
@https://bestinhistoricalfiction.blogs...
The story is richly imagined with well-researched historical period of Middle Ages Verona. The time when love is only meant for poor; when rich women are the tools for giving birth to male babies. She also presents ‘the other side of the story’ of Juliet’s cousin, what it means for a young boy to lose his mother, while she was giving a birth to another child.
The author paints beautifully a picture of a woman, who is busy with household choirs; which she doesn’t enjoy but must do, with no spare minute for herself. When time changes, with plenty time to spare, she starts missing her household, and then admits, “Hard as I’ve always had to work, I’ve never been any good at being idle.”
The story is spiced with medicinal herbs, honey comfit, needlework, customs and more. It has some twists and turns, which make the read very interesting.
@FB/BestHistoricalFiction
@https://bestinhistoricalfiction.blogs...
September 24, 2014
Leveen’s second novel imagines a backstory for the Nurse from Romeo and Juliet. As middle age approaches, Angelica and her husband, beekeeper Pietro, are still passionately in love even though they have known much sadness. When their baby daughter, Susanna, dies, she joins their six sons in the local graveyard. “Rich or poor, every loss we suffer is God’s will,” Angelica proclaims, smartly summarizing the medieval viewpoint. Women had no choice over childbearing; rather, “we romp, and we rut, and we leave it to the saints to decide when the babies come.”
Angelica rebounds from tragedy by going to work for Verona’s ‘Cappelletti’ (Capulet) family, as wet-nurse for baby Juliet, in 1360. A fierce bond arises between them: “Juliet is my earth, and I am her moon.” Part II advances to 1374, when Juliet is 14. It is a time of earthquakes and infighting; fear of the plague and street violence are constants. Meanwhile, familiar characters like Juliet’s cousin Tybalt, Mercutio, and Friar Lorenzo grow in importance.
Two-thirds of the way through the story, Shakespearean events begin. The play takes place over just five days, so the action speeds up accordingly: while true to the sense of melodrama, this sudden shift in both pace and language is jarring. Compared to Angelica’s previously earthy language, borrowed Shakespearean dialogue seems out of place. Circumstances take their legendarily tragic turn, but readers learn that Juliet’s loss devastates Angelica for an unexpected reason. “The more you love, the more you have to lose,” she concludes.
Leveen notes that, after Romeo and Juliet themselves, the Nurse gets the largest number of lines, and here she has her full say. Juliet’s Nurse is certainly sumptuously researched; the Easter service at the Duomo and various delectable banquets are particular highlights. Leveen traveled to Verona and consulted a beekeepers’ association to ensure authenticity.
(Featured in my BookTrib article on this fall’s literary spinoffs.)
Angelica rebounds from tragedy by going to work for Verona’s ‘Cappelletti’ (Capulet) family, as wet-nurse for baby Juliet, in 1360. A fierce bond arises between them: “Juliet is my earth, and I am her moon.” Part II advances to 1374, when Juliet is 14. It is a time of earthquakes and infighting; fear of the plague and street violence are constants. Meanwhile, familiar characters like Juliet’s cousin Tybalt, Mercutio, and Friar Lorenzo grow in importance.
Two-thirds of the way through the story, Shakespearean events begin. The play takes place over just five days, so the action speeds up accordingly: while true to the sense of melodrama, this sudden shift in both pace and language is jarring. Compared to Angelica’s previously earthy language, borrowed Shakespearean dialogue seems out of place. Circumstances take their legendarily tragic turn, but readers learn that Juliet’s loss devastates Angelica for an unexpected reason. “The more you love, the more you have to lose,” she concludes.
Leveen notes that, after Romeo and Juliet themselves, the Nurse gets the largest number of lines, and here she has her full say. Juliet’s Nurse is certainly sumptuously researched; the Easter service at the Duomo and various delectable banquets are particular highlights. Leveen traveled to Verona and consulted a beekeepers’ association to ensure authenticity.
(Featured in my BookTrib article on this fall’s literary spinoffs.)
October 7, 2014
Everyone knows the play, “Romeo & Juliet” and how it concludes. Yet, how many stop to imagine how each character came to be in his/her position? Lois Leveen does precisely this re-imagining in, “Juliet’s Nurse”. Leveen’s novel is a sort of prequel to “Romeo & Juliet” envisioning Juliet’s household and childhood years; especially that of her relations with her nurse, Angelica. As one can suspect, this can either make “Juliet’s Nurse” quite riveting or a poor excuse for ‘fan fiction’.
The story of “Juliet’s Nurse” begins with an instant dive into Angelica’s point of view/life with no introduction in a sort of short story-esque format. Although this works in many other novels adding layers of depth; it creates a barrier between the character and readers in “Juliet’s Nurse”. One doesn’t fully understand Angelica or feel her inner thoughts are broken down completely.
Undeniably, Leveen’s take on Juliet’s childhood and familiar characters (Tybalt, Lord Cappelletti, Friar Lorenzo, etc) is unique, colorful, and offers a set-up to the famous play. The text is often times vividly illustrated and poignant. Yet, although the prose isn’t bad per se; the plot is slow. In the simplest terms, nothing truly happens and the relationship between Angelica and baby Juliet is uneventful. There are many instances where the reader may stop to think, “What is the point and what is this leading to?” Again, “Juliet’s Nurse” isn’t badly written; it is merely the plot that is too thin.
Despite this, “Juliet’s Nurse” does have some intriguing, whimsical, and humorous moments. Plus, Leveen interweaves some poetic prose reminiscent of Shakespeare’s play and a little philosophical thought here-and-there which strengthens the novel.
An odd and overly done detail of “Juliet’s Nurse” is the focus on the highly amorous sex life of Angelica and her lusty husband, Pietro. This may have some sort of motive on Leveen’s end but it was completely lost on me, feeling unnecessary and with no cohesive connection to the plot. It basically seemed like Leveen either wanted to add shock value or thought a HF novel taking place in Italy had to include sex. In spite of these complaints, “Juliet’s Nurse” is not a dense novel and therefore flows easily and reads quickly. In this manner, the accessibility provokes the reader to continue on.
The second half of “Juliet’s Nurse” skips ahead to Juliet’s teen years becoming focused on the famous play’s events. Although the plot becomes more riveting with Juliet being no longer a baby and Leveen’s prose becomes more poetic; it also feels like another novel entirely resulting in some choppiness and confusion in regards to consistency.
The concluding chapters of “Juliet’s Nurse” heavily recall “Romeo & Juliet” but also stand firm in their unique angle of focusing on familiar events with that of Angelica’s views/feelings. On the other hand, some of Leveen’s depictions are silly and unbelievable with the original play. The ending of “Juliet’s Nurse” wraps up the novel with a moralistic overview while an ‘Author’s Note’ explains the basis of the story in relation to the play leaving a memorable ending note.
Overall, “Juliet’s Nurse” is well-written in terms of prose but the plot is a little flat and thin. This doesn’t mean that “Juliet’s Nurse” is terrible (it isn’t) but that it isn’t mind-blowing. Regardless, being that the novel is a quick read; it is suggested for those who enjoy “Romeo & Juliet” or are fans of the author (I would read more novels from Leveen).
The story of “Juliet’s Nurse” begins with an instant dive into Angelica’s point of view/life with no introduction in a sort of short story-esque format. Although this works in many other novels adding layers of depth; it creates a barrier between the character and readers in “Juliet’s Nurse”. One doesn’t fully understand Angelica or feel her inner thoughts are broken down completely.
Undeniably, Leveen’s take on Juliet’s childhood and familiar characters (Tybalt, Lord Cappelletti, Friar Lorenzo, etc) is unique, colorful, and offers a set-up to the famous play. The text is often times vividly illustrated and poignant. Yet, although the prose isn’t bad per se; the plot is slow. In the simplest terms, nothing truly happens and the relationship between Angelica and baby Juliet is uneventful. There are many instances where the reader may stop to think, “What is the point and what is this leading to?” Again, “Juliet’s Nurse” isn’t badly written; it is merely the plot that is too thin.
Despite this, “Juliet’s Nurse” does have some intriguing, whimsical, and humorous moments. Plus, Leveen interweaves some poetic prose reminiscent of Shakespeare’s play and a little philosophical thought here-and-there which strengthens the novel.
An odd and overly done detail of “Juliet’s Nurse” is the focus on the highly amorous sex life of Angelica and her lusty husband, Pietro. This may have some sort of motive on Leveen’s end but it was completely lost on me, feeling unnecessary and with no cohesive connection to the plot. It basically seemed like Leveen either wanted to add shock value or thought a HF novel taking place in Italy had to include sex. In spite of these complaints, “Juliet’s Nurse” is not a dense novel and therefore flows easily and reads quickly. In this manner, the accessibility provokes the reader to continue on.
The second half of “Juliet’s Nurse” skips ahead to Juliet’s teen years becoming focused on the famous play’s events. Although the plot becomes more riveting with Juliet being no longer a baby and Leveen’s prose becomes more poetic; it also feels like another novel entirely resulting in some choppiness and confusion in regards to consistency.
The concluding chapters of “Juliet’s Nurse” heavily recall “Romeo & Juliet” but also stand firm in their unique angle of focusing on familiar events with that of Angelica’s views/feelings. On the other hand, some of Leveen’s depictions are silly and unbelievable with the original play. The ending of “Juliet’s Nurse” wraps up the novel with a moralistic overview while an ‘Author’s Note’ explains the basis of the story in relation to the play leaving a memorable ending note.
Overall, “Juliet’s Nurse” is well-written in terms of prose but the plot is a little flat and thin. This doesn’t mean that “Juliet’s Nurse” is terrible (it isn’t) but that it isn’t mind-blowing. Regardless, being that the novel is a quick read; it is suggested for those who enjoy “Romeo & Juliet” or are fans of the author (I would read more novels from Leveen).
November 4, 2014
I don't know why I even finished this one, I really don't. There is nothing here that brings anything new or informative to the story. Nothing.
There is a big plot twist about 200 pages in(yes, 200 pages before anything interesting happens) and if you are interested there's the whole point of the story.
The actual story of Romeo and Juliet is barely seen. Most of the story is the nurse's reminiscences of her sons and how she feels and what she thinks( most of it about when she last had sex with her lusty husband and when she will have sex again with her lusty husband and not much else).
I honestly don't know what is the point of this whole story. There is no understanding of the feuding families. Wouldn't you think that someone living in the house would bring some knowledge of it? Wouldn't that add to the story?
Well, don't expect that.
Maybe you'd get backstage of what happened between Romeo and Juliet, more of what is between them, why they fall so hard for each other.
Well, don't expect that.
And, according to this retelling, Romeo, as seen through the nurse's eyes, is a terrible young man whom she plots to kill. Yes, you read that right.
Around the time that Romeo shows up in the story (far too late in the book)the language makes an abrupt and noticeable change. Suddenly it is filled with methinks and thou dosts and, well, the language of Shakespeare which the nurse had not used up to that point or barely here and there. It is jarring in the switch of language.
There is not a thing I liked about this book.
There is a big plot twist about 200 pages in(yes, 200 pages before anything interesting happens) and if you are interested there's the whole point of the story.
The actual story of Romeo and Juliet is barely seen. Most of the story is the nurse's reminiscences of her sons and how she feels and what she thinks( most of it about when she last had sex with her lusty husband and when she will have sex again with her lusty husband and not much else).
I honestly don't know what is the point of this whole story. There is no understanding of the feuding families. Wouldn't you think that someone living in the house would bring some knowledge of it? Wouldn't that add to the story?
Well, don't expect that.
Maybe you'd get backstage of what happened between Romeo and Juliet, more of what is between them, why they fall so hard for each other.
Well, don't expect that.
And, according to this retelling, Romeo, as seen through the nurse's eyes, is a terrible young man whom she plots to kill. Yes, you read that right.
Around the time that Romeo shows up in the story (far too late in the book)the language makes an abrupt and noticeable change. Suddenly it is filled with methinks and thou dosts and, well, the language of Shakespeare which the nurse had not used up to that point or barely here and there. It is jarring in the switch of language.
There is not a thing I liked about this book.
January 16, 2025
"Un hombre llorará de alegría cuando su mujer ha parido a su hijo. Un hombre de corazón tierno quizá hasta llore lágrimas de asombro ante la delicada belleza de su propia hija. Pero este sonido animal que surge de Pietro es distinto. Lo conozco, y el conocimiento se clava como una lanza aguda entre mis pechos expectantes" (p. 21).
¿Cómo sería redescubrir una de las historias de amor más conocidas del mundo a través de otra perspectiva? ¿Cómo sería poder acercarnos un poco más a la Verona medieval en donde los hechos de Romeo y Julieta ocurrieron?
A través de su pluma, Lois Leveen ha logrado rescatar la voz de uno de los personajes más importantes y enigmáticos de la gran tragedia de Shakespeare: la de Angélica, la nodriza de Julieta.
En sus notas al final de la obra, la autora nos cuenta cómo la misma existencia de esta nodriza ya es de por sí una de las incógnitas jamás reveladas. ¿Por qué una joven de 14 años seguía teniendo nodriza? ¿Y cómo es que esta señora tan distinta a los Capuleto terminó trabajando en esa gran casa?
He aquí la trágica y conmovedora historia de una mujer que perdió a todos a quienes alguna vez amó: Angélica. Una mujer que empieza a trabajar como nodriza de la hija de los Capelletti el mismo día en que da a luz a una bebé que no vivió.
El trasfondo histórico de lo que fue Verona en esa época. La gran peste que azotó a gran parte de Europa y que constituyó el fin del Medioevo. La historia de pérdida, amor y eventual redención de una mujer capaz de todo para defender a esa bebé que alimentó y crió.
No puedo ni imaginarme lo que sería perder un hijo, pero a través de Angélica y su historia, Lois Leveen ha logrado acercarme a ese dolor y todo lo que implica lograr seguir adelante luego de una experiencia semejante.
Una novela espectacular, sin duda.
"Siempre lo supe, claro. Pero de verdad, a la vez no lo supe. ¿No dije que la propia decepción es la esencia misma de la humanidad? ¿Que en nuestros corazones, todos queremos que nos engañen y que por eso nos convertirmos en tontos?" (p. 163).
¿Cómo sería redescubrir una de las historias de amor más conocidas del mundo a través de otra perspectiva? ¿Cómo sería poder acercarnos un poco más a la Verona medieval en donde los hechos de Romeo y Julieta ocurrieron?
A través de su pluma, Lois Leveen ha logrado rescatar la voz de uno de los personajes más importantes y enigmáticos de la gran tragedia de Shakespeare: la de Angélica, la nodriza de Julieta.
En sus notas al final de la obra, la autora nos cuenta cómo la misma existencia de esta nodriza ya es de por sí una de las incógnitas jamás reveladas. ¿Por qué una joven de 14 años seguía teniendo nodriza? ¿Y cómo es que esta señora tan distinta a los Capuleto terminó trabajando en esa gran casa?
He aquí la trágica y conmovedora historia de una mujer que perdió a todos a quienes alguna vez amó: Angélica. Una mujer que empieza a trabajar como nodriza de la hija de los Capelletti el mismo día en que da a luz a una bebé que no vivió.
El trasfondo histórico de lo que fue Verona en esa época. La gran peste que azotó a gran parte de Europa y que constituyó el fin del Medioevo. La historia de pérdida, amor y eventual redención de una mujer capaz de todo para defender a esa bebé que alimentó y crió.
No puedo ni imaginarme lo que sería perder un hijo, pero a través de Angélica y su historia, Lois Leveen ha logrado acercarme a ese dolor y todo lo que implica lograr seguir adelante luego de una experiencia semejante.
Una novela espectacular, sin duda.
"Siempre lo supe, claro. Pero de verdad, a la vez no lo supe. ¿No dije que la propia decepción es la esencia misma de la humanidad? ¿Que en nuestros corazones, todos queremos que nos engañen y que por eso nos convertirmos en tontos?" (p. 163).
January 16, 2025
"Un hombre llorará de alegría cuando su mujer ha parido a su hijo. Un hombre de corazón tierno quizá hasta llore lágrimas de asombro ante la delicada belleza de su propia hija. Pero este sonido animal que surge de Pietro es distinto. Lo conozco, y el conocimiento se clava como una lanza aguda entre mis pechos expectantes" (p. 21).
¿Cómo sería redescubrir una de las historias de amor más conocidas del mundo a través de otra perspectiva? ¿Cómo sería poder acercarnos un poco más a la Verona medieval en donde los hechos de Romeo y Julieta ocurrieron?
A través de su pluma, Lois Leveen ha logrado rescatar la voz de uno de los personajes más importantes y enigmáticos de la gran tragedia de Shakespeare: la de Angélica, la nodriza de Julieta.
En sus notas al final de la obra, la autora nos cuenta cómo la misma existencia de esta nodriza ya es de por sí una de las incógnitas jamás reveladas. ¿Por qué una joven de 14 años seguía teniendo nodriza? ¿Y cómo es que esta señora tan distinta a los Capuleto terminó trabajando en esa gran casa?
He aquí la trágica y conmovedora historia de una mujer que perdió a todos a quienes alguna vez amó: Angélica. Una mujer que empieza a trabajar como nodriza de la hija de los Capelletti el mismo día en que da a luz a una bebé que no vivió.
El trasfondo histórico de lo que fue Verona en esa época. La gran peste que azotó a gran parte de Europa y que constituyó el fin del Medioevo. La historia de pérdida, amor y eventual redención de una mujer capaz de todo para defender a esa bebé que alimentó y crió.
No puedo ni imaginarme lo que sería perder un hijo, pero a través de Angélica y su historia, Lois Leveen ha logrado acercarme a ese dolor y todo lo que implica lograr seguir adelante luego de una experiencia semejante.
Una novela espectacular, sin duda.
"Siempre lo supe, claro. Pero de verdad, a la vez no lo supe. ¿No dije que la propia decepción es la esencia misma de la humanidad? ¿Que en nuestros corazones, todos queremos que nos engañen y que por eso nos convertirmos en tontos?" (p. 163).
¿Cómo sería redescubrir una de las historias de amor más conocidas del mundo a través de otra perspectiva? ¿Cómo sería poder acercarnos un poco más a la Verona medieval en donde los hechos de Romeo y Julieta ocurrieron?
A través de su pluma, Lois Leveen ha logrado rescatar la voz de uno de los personajes más importantes y enigmáticos de la gran tragedia de Shakespeare: la de Angélica, la nodriza de Julieta.
En sus notas al final de la obra, la autora nos cuenta cómo la misma existencia de esta nodriza ya es de por sí una de las incógnitas jamás reveladas. ¿Por qué una joven de 14 años seguía teniendo nodriza? ¿Y cómo es que esta señora tan distinta a los Capuleto terminó trabajando en esa gran casa?
He aquí la trágica y conmovedora historia de una mujer que perdió a todos a quienes alguna vez amó: Angélica. Una mujer que empieza a trabajar como nodriza de la hija de los Capelletti el mismo día en que da a luz a una bebé que no vivió.
El trasfondo histórico de lo que fue Verona en esa época. La gran peste que azotó a gran parte de Europa y que constituyó el fin del Medioevo. La historia de pérdida, amor y eventual redención de una mujer capaz de todo para defender a esa bebé que alimentó y crió.
No puedo ni imaginarme lo que sería perder un hijo, pero a través de Angélica y su historia, Lois Leveen ha logrado acercarme a ese dolor y todo lo que implica lograr seguir adelante luego de una experiencia semejante.
Una novela espectacular, sin duda.
"Siempre lo supe, claro. Pero de verdad, a la vez no lo supe. ¿No dije que la propia decepción es la esencia misma de la humanidad? ¿Que en nuestros corazones, todos queremos que nos engañen y que por eso nos convertirmos en tontos?" (p. 163).
August 20, 2016
How much do I love Shakespearean re-tellings? Let me count the ways. Unlike Jane Austen retellings that can be all over the place and leave me with very mixed emotions, I've absolutely adored how contemporary authors like Rachel Caine with Prince of Shadows and Susan Fraser Kingwith Lady Macbeth have knocked it out of the park. Lois Leveen is no different and her Juliet's Nurse embodies the very essence of "the Bard's" literary magic.
Leveen's Angelica was the mother of six sons until they all became victims of the plague. The story opens as Angelica is in childbirth with her seventh child and first daughter. Tragically, baby Susanna dies and Angelina and her husband, Pierto, are left distraught. However, Friar Lorenzo tells Pierto of a rich family that also gave birth to a daughter on that day and are in need of a wet nurse. Angelica soon finds herself employed to take care of baby Juliet Cappelleti
I loved the characterization of Angelica and the love she displays towards baby Juliet and the motherless Tybalt. As well, I felt myself learning and rethinking all of the major characters in the original Romeo &Juliet play. My one confession is that the more I read, the less I really like Romeo.
A story not to be missed!
Leveen's Angelica was the mother of six sons until they all became victims of the plague. The story opens as Angelica is in childbirth with her seventh child and first daughter. Tragically, baby Susanna dies and Angelina and her husband, Pierto, are left distraught. However, Friar Lorenzo tells Pierto of a rich family that also gave birth to a daughter on that day and are in need of a wet nurse. Angelica soon finds herself employed to take care of baby Juliet Cappelleti
I loved the characterization of Angelica and the love she displays towards baby Juliet and the motherless Tybalt. As well, I felt myself learning and rethinking all of the major characters in the original Romeo &Juliet play. My one confession is that the more I read, the less I really like Romeo.
A story not to be missed!
February 18, 2021
This is an interesting and provocative retelling of the Romeo and Juliet story from the perspective of Juliet's nurse. The author Lois Leveen has a rich and engaging style. She fleshes out the character of Angelica very well and gives her a strong identity that goes beyond that of Juliet's nurse, which is a very important role for many different reasons. This book is a good escape and in a way reminds me of a high quality romance novel but there are scenes that are a little disturbing and I also feel it is somewhat repetitive and probably a little too long. However, as a fan of the play and someone interested in Medieval Italy I did enjoy it.
June 17, 2014
Lois Leveen makes her readers feel smart. She is expert at making connections that should be obvious to anyone, if only we had the time, curiosity, and creativity to find them. To Leveen's wonderfully crafted plot, add lovely language and a cast of truly complex characters. A sure bet for fans of Geraldine Brooks.
October 31, 2014
VERDICT: Stunning historical novel revisiting a Shakespearean play we think we already know all too well, Juliet’s Nurse will captivate its readers by its vibrant presentation of characters and their background story. Brilliant.
full review here:
http://wordsandpeace.com/2014/10/31/b...
full review here:
http://wordsandpeace.com/2014/10/31/b...
November 21, 2014
[Disclaimer: I received a free copy of this book through the Goodreads Giveaway.]
In Juliet's Nurse, Lois Leveen takes on the story of the nurse from Romeo & Juliet. The first half of the book is devoted to the bonding between Angelica, the nurse, and Juliet as a newborn through three-year-old. And if you're going to talk about a wet nurse, there's going to be a lot of talk about breastfeeding. But Angelica is also a bit randy (to put it mildly) and her husband can't get his fill of her often enough, so of course there's a lot of sex and sex talk, too. The story also involves Tybalt and his attachment to the nurse and to Juliet, and even to Angelica's husband Pietro and his bees.
For me, by about 30% of the way through the book I'd had enough of the narration of Juliet's breastfeeding, talking about how Angelica lost her virginity to her much older husband at the ripe age of 12, sex jokes, and finding ways to sneak sex with her husband. And the sheer number of times she mentioned her six boys lost to the plague was staggering. Almost every time she mentioned one of their names, it was followed up with something like, "but the plague took them and everything I loved." I feel like there wasn't enough to this nurse to make her into a full character or story. It relied too much on the fact that she was a wet nurse, that she loved Juliet and Tybalt, that she loved her husband, and she missed her sons.
That's not to say it wasn't well-written, and by the time we got to part two things started moving a bit more quickly. It is around the 75% mark where we start getting into the story that Shakespeare wrote, with a few lines from the play thrown in, and the dialogue changing actually quite noticeably to more Shakespearean language. It was not nearly as obvious in the first half of the book as it was when we flash forward to Juliet's 13th year. This part was interesting, although I really had to make myself "get over" how close Juliet and Angelica were since, in this century, it would seem odd (and a bit uncomfortable for me) for a nurse to clean her charge's teeth and sleep cuddled up with her every night (at 13 years old!). There is a lot more to the story of why this happens, and I don't claim to be an historian so I don't know if it would have been normal back then, but even so it made me feel uncomfortable, a bit leery.
The copy I received was an advanced reader, so there were many many typos and wrong words and missing letters and such. Hopefully they have all been fixed in the final release.
It was a good book, but I didn't love it, only liked it. It had an interesting perspective to present, and a strange back story to develop. Nice speculative fiction based on previous fiction. Just not something I really loved.
In Juliet's Nurse, Lois Leveen takes on the story of the nurse from Romeo & Juliet. The first half of the book is devoted to the bonding between Angelica, the nurse, and Juliet as a newborn through three-year-old. And if you're going to talk about a wet nurse, there's going to be a lot of talk about breastfeeding. But Angelica is also a bit randy (to put it mildly) and her husband can't get his fill of her often enough, so of course there's a lot of sex and sex talk, too. The story also involves Tybalt and his attachment to the nurse and to Juliet, and even to Angelica's husband Pietro and his bees.
For me, by about 30% of the way through the book I'd had enough of the narration of Juliet's breastfeeding, talking about how Angelica lost her virginity to her much older husband at the ripe age of 12, sex jokes, and finding ways to sneak sex with her husband. And the sheer number of times she mentioned her six boys lost to the plague was staggering. Almost every time she mentioned one of their names, it was followed up with something like, "but the plague took them and everything I loved." I feel like there wasn't enough to this nurse to make her into a full character or story. It relied too much on the fact that she was a wet nurse, that she loved Juliet and Tybalt, that she loved her husband, and she missed her sons.
That's not to say it wasn't well-written, and by the time we got to part two things started moving a bit more quickly. It is around the 75% mark where we start getting into the story that Shakespeare wrote, with a few lines from the play thrown in, and the dialogue changing actually quite noticeably to more Shakespearean language. It was not nearly as obvious in the first half of the book as it was when we flash forward to Juliet's 13th year. This part was interesting, although I really had to make myself "get over" how close Juliet and Angelica were since, in this century, it would seem odd (and a bit uncomfortable for me) for a nurse to clean her charge's teeth and sleep cuddled up with her every night (at 13 years old!). There is a lot more to the story of why this happens, and I don't claim to be an historian so I don't know if it would have been normal back then, but even so it made me feel uncomfortable, a bit leery.
The copy I received was an advanced reader, so there were many many typos and wrong words and missing letters and such. Hopefully they have all been fixed in the final release.
It was a good book, but I didn't love it, only liked it. It had an interesting perspective to present, and a strange back story to develop. Nice speculative fiction based on previous fiction. Just not something I really loved.
November 27, 2014
There are so many wonderful things to say about this novel, let’s see if I can get my thoughts in some sort of order here!
Juliet’s Nurse is NOT just a retelling of Romeo and Juliet from the perspective of a side character from Shakespeare’s play. It is so much more bold and rich that that description would imply. Juliet’s Nurse follows the titular character throughout her time in service to the Cappelletti from the day Juliet is born through the days following her death. We find out about her husband and children, how she came to end up being Juliet’s nurse, and what she thought about all of those antics that occurred between the two rival families. Anjelica (the nurse does have a real name!) is a hilarious, passionate, and devoted woman who I enjoyed learning more about throughout this novel.
The bulk of this novel takes place in the years preceding the meeting of Romeo and Juliet – and I was actually quite thankful for this. I loved seeing young Juliet and Tybalt and learning about their relationship – the nurse was basically the mother to both of them. Tybalt became one of my favorite characters in this novel which was a surprise. I think part of the reason why I preferred the early years is because Anjelica actually experienced it. Since this novel is being told from her first person perspective this early section (the part Shakespeare doesn’t tell us about) flows better because the author can make the choice to put her where ever she is needed. Whereas when we get to the Romeo period she does see things from the sidelines and we are only treated to little bits and pieces of the action. While it rounds out the story, it wasn’t as intriguing because of the more limited perspective. It speaks to the strength of the author that she can take the part of the novel I expected to be less interesting (the back story) and make it more fascinating than the well-known star-crossed lover’s story.
Leveen made the Italian world come to vivid life – sights, smells, and all! I couldn’t have asked for anything better in this department.
I thought that this was such a well done audio production. The narrator’s voice was perfect for what I envisioned Anjelica to sound like. She was light and bubbly when appropriate, but could reach the depth of sadness as well. Wonderful!
Juliet’s Nurse is NOT just a retelling of Romeo and Juliet from the perspective of a side character from Shakespeare’s play. It is so much more bold and rich that that description would imply. Juliet’s Nurse follows the titular character throughout her time in service to the Cappelletti from the day Juliet is born through the days following her death. We find out about her husband and children, how she came to end up being Juliet’s nurse, and what she thought about all of those antics that occurred between the two rival families. Anjelica (the nurse does have a real name!) is a hilarious, passionate, and devoted woman who I enjoyed learning more about throughout this novel.
The bulk of this novel takes place in the years preceding the meeting of Romeo and Juliet – and I was actually quite thankful for this. I loved seeing young Juliet and Tybalt and learning about their relationship – the nurse was basically the mother to both of them. Tybalt became one of my favorite characters in this novel which was a surprise. I think part of the reason why I preferred the early years is because Anjelica actually experienced it. Since this novel is being told from her first person perspective this early section (the part Shakespeare doesn’t tell us about) flows better because the author can make the choice to put her where ever she is needed. Whereas when we get to the Romeo period she does see things from the sidelines and we are only treated to little bits and pieces of the action. While it rounds out the story, it wasn’t as intriguing because of the more limited perspective. It speaks to the strength of the author that she can take the part of the novel I expected to be less interesting (the back story) and make it more fascinating than the well-known star-crossed lover’s story.
Leveen made the Italian world come to vivid life – sights, smells, and all! I couldn’t have asked for anything better in this department.
I thought that this was such a well done audio production. The narrator’s voice was perfect for what I envisioned Anjelica to sound like. She was light and bubbly when appropriate, but could reach the depth of sadness as well. Wonderful!
July 18, 2014
I think this is the last time I'll read a book with the concept of taking a notable work of fiction and telling it in another person's point of view, in this case, Juliet's nurse, of Romeo and Juliet.
Fortunately this book is divided into two sections, the first section deals more with Angelica and Pietro, the circumstances of her becoming a wet nurse to Juliet as well as her personal stories, and insight into Cappelletti. Hence, original work by the author. I did find that some part of first section lulled and repeated a bit but overall there were enough good portions in there for me to say it was okay.
The second half of the book is pretty much the play seen through nurse's point of view. I felt that the author didn't sound very old english in dialogues of first section but became very much that of the play in second section which was weird shift.
The main fault of this book is that too many things are not explained well or followed too closely to the play itself hence missed oppourtunity on the author's part to add some original writing. For example, the Montecche is not mentioned at all in the first section yet in second section the two families are already enemies without any reason/ the back story to explain how this has become thus just like in the play.
As well, the way Tybalt's personality changes from his youth in first section to a young man was unexpected, and unexplained mystery. Furthermore, the way the nurse deals with Tybalt in second section didn't make sense. Since the story jump from when he is nine or ten to when he is in his mid twenties I have no idea what kind of upbrining he has under Lord Cappelletti. All I know is that Tybalt of first is not the same person in second section.
Lastly, the end of first section ended with Angelica working out a possible secret of Juliet's birth but this is pretty much thrown out in second section when we discover that Angelica may not be rational when it comes to Juliet and the circumstance of her hiring as the wet nurse.
Fortunately this book is divided into two sections, the first section deals more with Angelica and Pietro, the circumstances of her becoming a wet nurse to Juliet as well as her personal stories, and insight into Cappelletti. Hence, original work by the author. I did find that some part of first section lulled and repeated a bit but overall there were enough good portions in there for me to say it was okay.
The second half of the book is pretty much the play seen through nurse's point of view. I felt that the author didn't sound very old english in dialogues of first section but became very much that of the play in second section which was weird shift.
The main fault of this book is that too many things are not explained well or followed too closely to the play itself hence missed oppourtunity on the author's part to add some original writing. For example, the Montecche is not mentioned at all in the first section yet in second section the two families are already enemies without any reason/ the back story to explain how this has become thus just like in the play.
As well, the way Tybalt's personality changes from his youth in first section to a young man was unexpected, and unexplained mystery. Furthermore, the way the nurse deals with Tybalt in second section didn't make sense. Since the story jump from when he is nine or ten to when he is in his mid twenties I have no idea what kind of upbrining he has under Lord Cappelletti. All I know is that Tybalt of first is not the same person in second section.
Lastly, the end of first section ended with Angelica working out a possible secret of Juliet's birth but this is pretty much thrown out in second section when we discover that Angelica may not be rational when it comes to Juliet and the circumstance of her hiring as the wet nurse.
September 22, 2014
Juliet's nurse was engaging from the very first page. The story is told from the point of view of Juliet's nurse, Angelica, beginning with the rather odd childbirth and subsequent death of her infant girl. Her voice is at times compelling, sensitive, humorous, and profound. She is a character that will stay with you long after you've put the book down.
I don't want to give away too much of the story, but the author has added some twists and turns to Shakespeare's version. They work and they work well. Even though you may be very familiar with the story of Romeo and Juliet, this story will keep you in suspense to the very end.
More than an historical/fictional drama, this book is a romance. But not the one you might think. Angelica is profoundly loved by her husband Pietro. Together they have mourned the horrifying loss of all their sons to plague. Angelica must decide whether to remain with Juliet once she has weaned or return to her husband who misses her so. This is a woman who wants both the love of a man and the love of a child. Her clever, convoluted plots to keep both are intriguing and touching. The love scenes between Pietro and Angelica are both tender and passionate.
This author, Lois Leveen, really knows how to pull at the heartstrings. She is never maudlin, emotions come across as sincere, deep, and human. Don't be surprised if you tear up in unexpected places.
The writing is tight, the research well done, and the story is seamlessly knitted up with Shakespeare's work. My single disappointment was that she has only one other book on Amazon, which I intend to read as soon as possible.
If you like romance, Shakespeare, and/or Tudor history, this story will climb inside your heart and take up residence.
I was given an advanced reading copy in exchange for a fair review.
I don't want to give away too much of the story, but the author has added some twists and turns to Shakespeare's version. They work and they work well. Even though you may be very familiar with the story of Romeo and Juliet, this story will keep you in suspense to the very end.
More than an historical/fictional drama, this book is a romance. But not the one you might think. Angelica is profoundly loved by her husband Pietro. Together they have mourned the horrifying loss of all their sons to plague. Angelica must decide whether to remain with Juliet once she has weaned or return to her husband who misses her so. This is a woman who wants both the love of a man and the love of a child. Her clever, convoluted plots to keep both are intriguing and touching. The love scenes between Pietro and Angelica are both tender and passionate.
This author, Lois Leveen, really knows how to pull at the heartstrings. She is never maudlin, emotions come across as sincere, deep, and human. Don't be surprised if you tear up in unexpected places.
The writing is tight, the research well done, and the story is seamlessly knitted up with Shakespeare's work. My single disappointment was that she has only one other book on Amazon, which I intend to read as soon as possible.
If you like romance, Shakespeare, and/or Tudor history, this story will climb inside your heart and take up residence.
I was given an advanced reading copy in exchange for a fair review.
Read
October 3, 2019Rarely is there satisfaction in retellings. And yet I keep reading them. The premise of hearing a familiar story from another perspective is very appealing, which is why I looked forward to Juliet's Nurse. This woman plays a large role in the most famous love story, and yet so little is known about her--her name is mentioned only once in the play. I really wanted to like the book, yet barely finished it.
For one, TMI, for goodness sake. Way too much focus on Nursey's love life, which mainly focused on her sex life--actually quite a bit of the book is about sex. Shakespeare hints at it, but Leveen seems fixated.
Another factor is liberties with plot. You'll never believe who Juliet is supposed to be and I don't do spoilers. I just shook my head at that point.
It was more than halfway through the book before the familiarity of the play plot kicked in. A nice handling of familiar lines and scenes. The long and involved backstory made some sense, but much too long in getting to the main event of Romeo and Juliet.
Overall:
There is admirable historical detail, yet too much supposition.
For one, TMI, for goodness sake. Way too much focus on Nursey's love life, which mainly focused on her sex life--actually quite a bit of the book is about sex. Shakespeare hints at it, but Leveen seems fixated.
Another factor is liberties with plot. You'll never believe who Juliet is supposed to be and I don't do spoilers. I just shook my head at that point.
It was more than halfway through the book before the familiarity of the play plot kicked in. A nice handling of familiar lines and scenes. The long and involved backstory made some sense, but much too long in getting to the main event of Romeo and Juliet.
Overall:
There is admirable historical detail, yet too much supposition.
Read
July 21, 2016This was a hard read for me in some ways, and a really EASY read in others --
For starters? Leveen's prose is amazing. So beautiful. Angelica's voice is clear as a bell and so distinct. It's gorgeously written. It's also a unique take on the story of Romeo and Juliet! And Angelica's perspective is just so well done! It felt so natural.
But for me, as a not-very-maternal person, it was difficult for me to fully immerse in her character and struggles. So much of her life and story is (rightly) built around and focused on her mothering of Juliet, and that maternal element is always at the forefront for her. This is a 100000% personal issue where I just lacked the right resonance with the character, but because the prose was so beautiful, it didn't stop me from finishing the book. Or even enjoying most of it!
Pietro and Tybalt were my favorite characters, I think -- and though when reading the play I always loved Mercutio the most, I definitely found him far less interesting here, which I thought was fantastic, because it gave opportunity for Tybalt to really shine.
For starters? Leveen's prose is amazing. So beautiful. Angelica's voice is clear as a bell and so distinct. It's gorgeously written. It's also a unique take on the story of Romeo and Juliet! And Angelica's perspective is just so well done! It felt so natural.
But for me, as a not-very-maternal person, it was difficult for me to fully immerse in her character and struggles. So much of her life and story is (rightly) built around and focused on her mothering of Juliet, and that maternal element is always at the forefront for her. This is a 100000% personal issue where I just lacked the right resonance with the character, but because the prose was so beautiful, it didn't stop me from finishing the book. Or even enjoying most of it!
Pietro and Tybalt were my favorite characters, I think -- and though when reading the play I always loved Mercutio the most, I definitely found him far less interesting here, which I thought was fantastic, because it gave opportunity for Tybalt to really shine.
March 27, 2019
Thank you to NetGalley and Atria Books for providing me with an Advanced Readers Copy of Juliet’s Nurse by Lois Leveen.
Below is my unbiased review.
O Lois Leveen, Lois Leveen, wherefore art thou, when I was in high school? If only I had the chance to read Juliet’s Nurse back then, Shakespeare would have been much more digestible! Lois Leveen has written a fascinating and enthralling take on Shakespeare’s Romeo and Juliet. Using the voice of Juliet’s wet nurse as the narrator, the city of Verona and all of its inhabitants are brought to life. Family rivalries, secrets, feuds and love affairs are all told in vibrant detail. I highly recommend this compelling re-tale of an already beloved classic.
Below is my unbiased review.
O Lois Leveen, Lois Leveen, wherefore art thou, when I was in high school? If only I had the chance to read Juliet’s Nurse back then, Shakespeare would have been much more digestible! Lois Leveen has written a fascinating and enthralling take on Shakespeare’s Romeo and Juliet. Using the voice of Juliet’s wet nurse as the narrator, the city of Verona and all of its inhabitants are brought to life. Family rivalries, secrets, feuds and love affairs are all told in vibrant detail. I highly recommend this compelling re-tale of an already beloved classic.
May 28, 2018
Did not finish. Interesting concept that I was really excited for, but one of the slowest-moving books I've ever read. The nurse is one of the more interesting characters in Romeo and Juliet, but I was really reading for Tybalt, King of Cats, of whom I did not get much. I probably would have been able to get through this book, but I was not into the characterization of the nurse, and her "beloved" husband was a pervy piece of shit. I couldn't stand to read about him.
Maybe I'll pick it up again one day, but not for a while.
Maybe I'll pick it up again one day, but not for a while.
January 1, 2017
Over halfway read, but I'm having a hard time making myself finish this. It just isn't my type of novel.
September 30, 2020
Found this to be a beautiful and captivating story that's hold you into its grip. It's deeply moving and even if you know the story the end is still haunting
February 27, 2016
When we read a play, all that we can know about the characters is contained in their lines of dialogue. Sometimes, the playwright will include detailed notes regarding setting, characters' moods and humours when speaking their lines, and blocking. But in truth, a written play is a skeletal thing. Many of us require a director to flesh out what is going on, and the individual actors and actresses to give us insight into their characters. A play is a cooperative venture in storytelling.
Over the years, when reading famous plays, especially those plays whose authors have long since passed, and so can no longer give us their own vision for their work, we tend to accept what the more popular versions of such productions tell us. Often, it is the more traditional versions we remember. And then, as youngsters, being forced to read such plays, with little background in the history, politics, social order, philosophies and religions, or the geographical locations of these works, we become easily and quickly bored. The plays do not "live" for us.
And then, we have the occasional moments of genius like Sir Ian McKellen's adaptation of Richard III, in which Shakespeare's history is transposed to a 1930s fascist monarchy, and the very setting helps to enhance the politics being portrayed. Or, Michael Hoffman's adaptation of A Midsummer Night's Dream, in which the comedy set in ancient Athens, is transposed to a 19th century Italian village, Monte Atena, adding visions of country life in Tuscany, and new technologies, like bicycles and phonographs. All of these help bring the play closer to us in understanding and allow us to appreciate the Bard's skills.
A novel, in contrast to a play, is not mere skeleton, but also muscle and sinew, and fat and viscera. It is rich and deep and immediately accessible to the reader in ways a play is not. And this is not to denigrate plays in general, or Shakespeare in particular (the Muses forbid!); but rather to point up the differences between a story that one can enjoy alone, as opposed to a story that must be enjoyed as the collaborative effort of a community.
All this said by way of preface, if you have any appreciation for The Bard at all, and if you have enjoyed, in text, or in production, the play Romeo and Juliet, then I most strongly urge you to purchase and read Juliet's Nurse, by Lois Leveen.
Juliet's Nurse is a retelling of Shakespeare's most beloved tragedy through the eyes of Angelica, noted in the play simply as "Nurse." It spans the days from Angelica's engagement with House Cappeletti as wet nurse to their newborn child Juliet. We learn of the Nurse's background, her husband, with whom she was very much in love, and who loved her just as fiercely. We learn of her six boys, the eldest fifteen, and the youngest nine, by the time the plague took them all.
Leveen's book is full of marvelous historical details, and describes the daily life of early Renaissance Verona with as much colour and clarity as any of Michelangelo's frescoes. And everything that happens is from the point of view of this poor, workaday woman, who has had joy in her marriage, and pain in the loss of her children, and is in so many ways as "average" a person of that day and age as any.
The book opens with Angelica struggling in labour to be delivered of a child. She and her husband are by now in their thirties (roughly), and Angelica had thought herself beyond bearing at this point. Alas, the woman bears a girl, stillborn, and is heartbroken; but is almost immediately engaged as a wet nurse for a girl that was born on the same day to Lord and Lady Cappeletto.
From that point, we see Angelica raising Juliet, and coming to love her as deeply as if she were her own child. We see, with Angelica, Juliet grow from swaddled baby, to toddler, to child, to young woman. And we see Tybalt, also a child, spending his time with the Nurse and his little cousin Juliet, upon whom he dotes from the time of her infancy. We see Angelica's husband come for clandestine visits, as he tends the beehives of House Cappeletto, and how Juliet and Tybalt come to love him as they love Nurse, and mourn with her when she is widowed.
It is very difficult to give much description here without giving away too much of what you will delight to read yourself in this novel. But by the last quarter of the book, the events of the play begin to take place. All from Nurse's point of view, and Leveen skillfully integrates Shakespeare's dialogue into the story. And we come to see the play in a new light. Romeo is not the young gallant we've come to think of him as, but a false and deceitful boy, who, thwarted in his pursuit of Rosaline, turns his attentions to Juliet. We see Tybalt, not as the hot-headed villain, but as a loving and loyal brother, and cousin, and a defender of Capelletto's honour. Events hinted at in the play are fleshed out, such as the time when Juliet was said to have fallen upon her face as a child, and Tybalt's appellation as "King of Cats."
There is also an ingenious plot twist regarding Juliet's parentage which, as Leveen writes it, could be true-- or it might only have been Nurse's own imaginings. But you must read it for yourself to decide.
Of course, the play, the original story is a tragedy. So that cannot be changed. But as we are introduced so intimately to this family, we get to see the principals of the play as little children, and we see them grow up, and we see the politicking and circumstances that help mold who they become as they grow up. And it makes the tragedy of the story all the sharper, all the more cruel. We see it in a way that we cannot see in Shakespeare's play-- Even in a full production; for in the play, we are introduced to the players in their final forms. We are taken (or not) with the beauty of the words and lines. But in Leveen's book, we become so familiar with these young lives-- with Juliet-- that the pain of her foolish choices, leading to her death, is very real, and very close to the heart.
I would even urge that anyone who wants to put on a production of Romeo and Juliet should first read Lois Leveen's book.
Over the years, when reading famous plays, especially those plays whose authors have long since passed, and so can no longer give us their own vision for their work, we tend to accept what the more popular versions of such productions tell us. Often, it is the more traditional versions we remember. And then, as youngsters, being forced to read such plays, with little background in the history, politics, social order, philosophies and religions, or the geographical locations of these works, we become easily and quickly bored. The plays do not "live" for us.
And then, we have the occasional moments of genius like Sir Ian McKellen's adaptation of Richard III, in which Shakespeare's history is transposed to a 1930s fascist monarchy, and the very setting helps to enhance the politics being portrayed. Or, Michael Hoffman's adaptation of A Midsummer Night's Dream, in which the comedy set in ancient Athens, is transposed to a 19th century Italian village, Monte Atena, adding visions of country life in Tuscany, and new technologies, like bicycles and phonographs. All of these help bring the play closer to us in understanding and allow us to appreciate the Bard's skills.
A novel, in contrast to a play, is not mere skeleton, but also muscle and sinew, and fat and viscera. It is rich and deep and immediately accessible to the reader in ways a play is not. And this is not to denigrate plays in general, or Shakespeare in particular (the Muses forbid!); but rather to point up the differences between a story that one can enjoy alone, as opposed to a story that must be enjoyed as the collaborative effort of a community.
All this said by way of preface, if you have any appreciation for The Bard at all, and if you have enjoyed, in text, or in production, the play Romeo and Juliet, then I most strongly urge you to purchase and read Juliet's Nurse, by Lois Leveen.
Juliet's Nurse is a retelling of Shakespeare's most beloved tragedy through the eyes of Angelica, noted in the play simply as "Nurse." It spans the days from Angelica's engagement with House Cappeletti as wet nurse to their newborn child Juliet. We learn of the Nurse's background, her husband, with whom she was very much in love, and who loved her just as fiercely. We learn of her six boys, the eldest fifteen, and the youngest nine, by the time the plague took them all.
Leveen's book is full of marvelous historical details, and describes the daily life of early Renaissance Verona with as much colour and clarity as any of Michelangelo's frescoes. And everything that happens is from the point of view of this poor, workaday woman, who has had joy in her marriage, and pain in the loss of her children, and is in so many ways as "average" a person of that day and age as any.
The book opens with Angelica struggling in labour to be delivered of a child. She and her husband are by now in their thirties (roughly), and Angelica had thought herself beyond bearing at this point. Alas, the woman bears a girl, stillborn, and is heartbroken; but is almost immediately engaged as a wet nurse for a girl that was born on the same day to Lord and Lady Cappeletto.
From that point, we see Angelica raising Juliet, and coming to love her as deeply as if she were her own child. We see, with Angelica, Juliet grow from swaddled baby, to toddler, to child, to young woman. And we see Tybalt, also a child, spending his time with the Nurse and his little cousin Juliet, upon whom he dotes from the time of her infancy. We see Angelica's husband come for clandestine visits, as he tends the beehives of House Cappeletto, and how Juliet and Tybalt come to love him as they love Nurse, and mourn with her when she is widowed.
It is very difficult to give much description here without giving away too much of what you will delight to read yourself in this novel. But by the last quarter of the book, the events of the play begin to take place. All from Nurse's point of view, and Leveen skillfully integrates Shakespeare's dialogue into the story. And we come to see the play in a new light. Romeo is not the young gallant we've come to think of him as, but a false and deceitful boy, who, thwarted in his pursuit of Rosaline, turns his attentions to Juliet. We see Tybalt, not as the hot-headed villain, but as a loving and loyal brother, and cousin, and a defender of Capelletto's honour. Events hinted at in the play are fleshed out, such as the time when Juliet was said to have fallen upon her face as a child, and Tybalt's appellation as "King of Cats."
There is also an ingenious plot twist regarding Juliet's parentage which, as Leveen writes it, could be true-- or it might only have been Nurse's own imaginings. But you must read it for yourself to decide.
Of course, the play, the original story is a tragedy. So that cannot be changed. But as we are introduced so intimately to this family, we get to see the principals of the play as little children, and we see them grow up, and we see the politicking and circumstances that help mold who they become as they grow up. And it makes the tragedy of the story all the sharper, all the more cruel. We see it in a way that we cannot see in Shakespeare's play-- Even in a full production; for in the play, we are introduced to the players in their final forms. We are taken (or not) with the beauty of the words and lines. But in Leveen's book, we become so familiar with these young lives-- with Juliet-- that the pain of her foolish choices, leading to her death, is very real, and very close to the heart.
I would even urge that anyone who wants to put on a production of Romeo and Juliet should first read Lois Leveen's book.
January 3, 2019
My high school girlfriend once advised me to read historical fiction because it was full of sex and your parents would still approve. This book fits that description--Angelica, the title character, is as lusty as she is in the Shakespeare play--but its merits go far beyond that. Well-imagined and well-researched, it makes the backstory of Romeo and Juliet (including the plague that cut the population of Europe by half, and kept recurring at intervals for centuries) seem more compelling than the love story we all know. But it casts new light on that story, too.
It may have been impossible to tell the death scene without getting melodramatic, and certainly Shakespeare was prone to that tendency as well. That's the only weakness I find in this excellent book.
It may have been impossible to tell the death scene without getting melodramatic, and certainly Shakespeare was prone to that tendency as well. That's the only weakness I find in this excellent book.
July 18, 2017
A wonderfully woven tale of all the in-betweens of Romeo and Juliet. I would definitely recommend for any Shakespeare fans.
Romeo and Juliet is often taught as a love story, but it is so much more. Leveen illustrates beautifully the themes of family, pride, lust, and death, as well as the commonly-attributed theme of love, in this novel.
Romeo and Juliet is often taught as a love story, but it is so much more. Leveen illustrates beautifully the themes of family, pride, lust, and death, as well as the commonly-attributed theme of love, in this novel.
November 8, 2018
While I really enjoyed the first 2/3 of the book, the last bit was very boring.
November 9, 2025
this book was so fun & interesting to read. it puts romeo and juliet in a totally different perspective and i enjoyed that the book was mainly about the nurse’s life and we got to see juliet and tybalt’s childhood. i loved the character of tybalt. this is definitely a time piece and the author did an amazing job at writing the story within that time period.
March 26, 2025
Vivid imagery of Verona.
October 23, 2015
The narrator of this novel is Angelica, Juliet’s nurse. We learn her life story, especially her years in the employ of the Cappelletti family until Juliet’s death.
In Shakespeare’s play, the Nurse is a comic figure, but though she continues to have a bawdy sense of humour in this novel, she is also someone who has experienced hardship and great sorrow. Nothing in the novel contradicts her personality as outlined in the play, but more of her traits are revealed and her motivations for her actions are made clear.
It is not only the Nurse’s character that is developed. New insights are offered into Tybalt, Lady Cappelletti (Capulet), Prince Cansignorio (Escalus), Paris, and Friar Laurence, amongst others. For readers familiar with Shakespeare’s play, this character development will be especially interesting.
The novel also provides insight into life in 14th-century Verona. The Nurse, because of her unique position, can describe the life of the working poor, but she can also show the lifestyle of the wealthiest members of society.
Using such a well-known play as the basis for a novel is a risky endeavour. What can be added? The author does, however, provide one major plot twist concerning Juliet’s birth. What I did look for and did not find was a better explanation for the family feud. It is not even mentioned in the first part of the novel, and that lack of foreshadowing I found to be a flaw. I was also disconcerted to read that Lord Montecche (Montague) is the father of seven sons. Perhaps I am mistaken, but I believe Romeo is an only child. Certainly the death of an only child adds to the tragic dimensions.
The author inserts phrases from Shakespeare into the novel. Often, however, those phrases are used by other than the characters in the play. For example, in the play, Juliet describes her love for Romeo as being “as boundless as the sea.” In the novel, it is the Nurse who uses that phrase to describe Juliet’s capacity to love. In the novel, Tybalt describes Romeo’s offering Rosaline “gold enough to seduce a saint” whereas in the play, Romeo himself uses that phrase to describe his attempts to woo Rosaline.
The problem with incorporating Shakespeare’s dialogue is that the novel is inconsistently poetic. Until the novel picks up where the play begins, the diction is much less lyrical.
Occasionally the Shakespearean allusions are more indirect: the Nurse refers to hearing “the songs of the nightingales” and then “the first morning lark’s insistent chirps” thereby foreshadowing Romeo and Juliet’s disagreement the morning after their marriage. Sometimes reference is made to other of Shakespeare’s plays; for instance, the Nurse is given a special kerchief by her husband; the entire episode is like Othello’s gifting of a handkerchief to Desdemona.
This novel provides an original prequel to Shakespeare’s play. It is sometimes needlessly repetitive (e.g. the Nurse’s sexual romps with her husband, Lord Cappelletto’s desire to gain the favour of the Prince, the Friar’s interest in people’s sexual activities) but it develops the personality of one of the most interesting characters in Shakespeare’s tragedy.
Note: I received an ARC of the book from the publisher via NetGalley.
Please check out my reader's blog (http://schatjesshelves.blogspot.ca/) and follow me on Twitter (@DCYakabuski).
In Shakespeare’s play, the Nurse is a comic figure, but though she continues to have a bawdy sense of humour in this novel, she is also someone who has experienced hardship and great sorrow. Nothing in the novel contradicts her personality as outlined in the play, but more of her traits are revealed and her motivations for her actions are made clear.
It is not only the Nurse’s character that is developed. New insights are offered into Tybalt, Lady Cappelletti (Capulet), Prince Cansignorio (Escalus), Paris, and Friar Laurence, amongst others. For readers familiar with Shakespeare’s play, this character development will be especially interesting.
The novel also provides insight into life in 14th-century Verona. The Nurse, because of her unique position, can describe the life of the working poor, but she can also show the lifestyle of the wealthiest members of society.
Using such a well-known play as the basis for a novel is a risky endeavour. What can be added? The author does, however, provide one major plot twist concerning Juliet’s birth. What I did look for and did not find was a better explanation for the family feud. It is not even mentioned in the first part of the novel, and that lack of foreshadowing I found to be a flaw. I was also disconcerted to read that Lord Montecche (Montague) is the father of seven sons. Perhaps I am mistaken, but I believe Romeo is an only child. Certainly the death of an only child adds to the tragic dimensions.
The author inserts phrases from Shakespeare into the novel. Often, however, those phrases are used by other than the characters in the play. For example, in the play, Juliet describes her love for Romeo as being “as boundless as the sea.” In the novel, it is the Nurse who uses that phrase to describe Juliet’s capacity to love. In the novel, Tybalt describes Romeo’s offering Rosaline “gold enough to seduce a saint” whereas in the play, Romeo himself uses that phrase to describe his attempts to woo Rosaline.
The problem with incorporating Shakespeare’s dialogue is that the novel is inconsistently poetic. Until the novel picks up where the play begins, the diction is much less lyrical.
Occasionally the Shakespearean allusions are more indirect: the Nurse refers to hearing “the songs of the nightingales” and then “the first morning lark’s insistent chirps” thereby foreshadowing Romeo and Juliet’s disagreement the morning after their marriage. Sometimes reference is made to other of Shakespeare’s plays; for instance, the Nurse is given a special kerchief by her husband; the entire episode is like Othello’s gifting of a handkerchief to Desdemona.
This novel provides an original prequel to Shakespeare’s play. It is sometimes needlessly repetitive (e.g. the Nurse’s sexual romps with her husband, Lord Cappelletto’s desire to gain the favour of the Prince, the Friar’s interest in people’s sexual activities) but it develops the personality of one of the most interesting characters in Shakespeare’s tragedy.
Note: I received an ARC of the book from the publisher via NetGalley.
Please check out my reader's blog (http://schatjesshelves.blogspot.ca/) and follow me on Twitter (@DCYakabuski).
January 13, 2016
I would give the novel two and a half stars. I loved the concept of the book and I felt the author recreated the environment, of what I would imagine fourteenth century Verona would be like, in descriptions that involved all the senses. The images of bees, hives and honey gathering was lovely.
The first section of the book was very repetitive with endless scenes of the nurse (narrator) making love with her husband, constantly dwelling on the death of her children and nursing Juliet. A first person narrator with such a restritive life can make for a boring story; what saves it for me is the richness of the descriptions and the fine writing. The development of some of the characters was interesting as well and caused me to look at the play of Romeo and Juliet in an entirely new light.
It completely fell apart for me in the second part of the novel. It is a decade or so later and the author starts to follow the sequence of events in the play more closely and the characters actually speak lines from the play. I thought this was an awful choice on the author's part for several reasons: firstly the nurse is narrating in her own voice which, if you can suspend belief, you imagine is how one might have spoken in fourteenth century Verona; all of sudden we are reading blank verse and rhyming couplets from an English playwright more than two centuries in the future. This effectively took me out of the story.
In the first part of the book you can believe that this might be the story upon which Romeo and Juliet was based but since the author starts quoting from the play this illusion is shattered.
Thirdly, the characters are now speaking in ways that are far removed from how they were developed in the novel. I find it hard to comprehend Juliet, who is described as innocent and guileless and seems to spend most of her life in the company of her nurse, speaking the clever and convoluted rhymes of Shakespeare. The author, though a good writer is no Shakepeare, resulting in a huge gulf between her writing and the words of the playwright.
The actions in the second part of the play happen rapidly but whereas we have come to know Tybalt, the nurse, Juliet's mother and father in the first part of the novel we learn next to nothing about Romeo or Paris - they suddenly appear. I felt absolutely no emotional connection with these characters and their deaths didn't have much of an impact. If those characters had been developed more fully in the first part, forgoing much of the nurse's excesses including her obsession with Juliet it would have made for a more balanced and interesting novel.
Finally, why would the author or editor allow this completely erroneous statement about bees to be made in the penultimate paragraph, of all places? "Those that stay inside, turning collected pollen into precious nectar," If this inaccuracy had appeared earlier in the novel I wouldn't have read past it because it bothered me so much, especially since the author says she has placed a hive in her backyard, so I'm thinking she should know a lot about bees, as should her characters.
The first section of the book was very repetitive with endless scenes of the nurse (narrator) making love with her husband, constantly dwelling on the death of her children and nursing Juliet. A first person narrator with such a restritive life can make for a boring story; what saves it for me is the richness of the descriptions and the fine writing. The development of some of the characters was interesting as well and caused me to look at the play of Romeo and Juliet in an entirely new light.
It completely fell apart for me in the second part of the novel. It is a decade or so later and the author starts to follow the sequence of events in the play more closely and the characters actually speak lines from the play. I thought this was an awful choice on the author's part for several reasons: firstly the nurse is narrating in her own voice which, if you can suspend belief, you imagine is how one might have spoken in fourteenth century Verona; all of sudden we are reading blank verse and rhyming couplets from an English playwright more than two centuries in the future. This effectively took me out of the story.
In the first part of the book you can believe that this might be the story upon which Romeo and Juliet was based but since the author starts quoting from the play this illusion is shattered.
Thirdly, the characters are now speaking in ways that are far removed from how they were developed in the novel. I find it hard to comprehend Juliet, who is described as innocent and guileless and seems to spend most of her life in the company of her nurse, speaking the clever and convoluted rhymes of Shakespeare. The author, though a good writer is no Shakepeare, resulting in a huge gulf between her writing and the words of the playwright.
The actions in the second part of the play happen rapidly but whereas we have come to know Tybalt, the nurse, Juliet's mother and father in the first part of the novel we learn next to nothing about Romeo or Paris - they suddenly appear. I felt absolutely no emotional connection with these characters and their deaths didn't have much of an impact. If those characters had been developed more fully in the first part, forgoing much of the nurse's excesses including her obsession with Juliet it would have made for a more balanced and interesting novel.
Finally, why would the author or editor allow this completely erroneous statement about bees to be made in the penultimate paragraph, of all places? "Those that stay inside, turning collected pollen into precious nectar," If this inaccuracy had appeared earlier in the novel I wouldn't have read past it because it bothered me so much, especially since the author says she has placed a hive in her backyard, so I'm thinking she should know a lot about bees, as should her characters.
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