Searching for Juliet
 | |
| Author | Sophie Duncan |
|---|---|
| Publisher | Sceptre |
Publication date | 6 April 2023 |
| Publication place | United Kingdom |
| Pages | 320 |
| ISBN | 978-1529365177 |
Searching for Juliet: The Lives and Deaths of Shakespeare’s First Tragic Heroine is a book written by Sophie Duncan, a research fellow at Magdalen College, Oxford, published by Sceptre in 2023. The book is a cultural, historical, and literary exploration of the birth, death, and legacy of Juliet Capulet.
The book has received positive reviews. In Literary Review Kirsten Tambling described it as "a witty and illuminating account" that "explores how Juliet has been conceived, reworked and reimagined in Western culture from her first appearance in the 16th century to the present day".[1] In The Times Sophie Elmhirst praises the book as a "roving, animated quest" adding that "Duncan approaches her subject from all angles, turning Juliet like a gem in the light".[2] Writing in The Guardian, Samantha Ellis describes the book as "invigorating cultural investigation of Shakespeare’s heroine", and Duncan as "an engaging guide to Juliet’s complex afterlives".[3] In The Daily Telegraph Jonathan Bate describes the book as "witty and scholarly".[4] For The Times Literary Supplement Margreta de Grazia described the book as "a buoyant account", adding that "[Duncan's] book is richly informed by the ideological, commercial, political and personal motivations behind the many viewpoints she uncovers".[5] In Prospect Rhodri Lewis writes that "Duncan is a deft, compelling and thoroughly researched guide".[6]
A paperback edition was published in April 2024.[7] In May 2024 it was shortlisted for the Society for Theatre Research Book Prize.[8]
References
[edit]- ^ Tambling, Kirsten (5 April 2023). "Such Sweet Sorrow". Literary Review.
- ^ Elmhirst, Sophie (19 March 2023). "Searching for Juliet by Sophie Duncan review — Shakespeare's romantic heroine". The Times.
- ^ Ellis, Samantha (30 March 2023). "Searching for Juliet by Sophie Duncan review – the many faces of a heroine". The Guardian.
- ^ Bate, Jonathan (28 May 2023). "Was Shakespeare really a woman? And does Taylor Swift know him best?". The Daily Telegraph. Retrieved 28 May 2023.
- ^ De Grazia, Margareta (21 July 2023). "We see our own Juliet: The many faces of Shakespeare's heroine". The Times Literary Supplement. Retrieved 24 July 2023.
- ^ Lewis, Rhodri (1 November 2023). "21st-century bard". Prospect. Retrieved 5 November 2023.
- ^ "New paperbacks for April — Quentin Tarantino on cinema, the fall of Boris and more". The Times. 5 April 2024. Retrieved 6 April 2024.
- ^ "STR Theatre Book Prize". The Society for Theatre Research. Retrieved 16 May 2024.