Australian
Writer
Jackie
French I Am Juliet Angus & Robertson 2014 $19.99pb 207pp ISBN 978 0 7322 9798 5
Themes:
Elizabethan theatre/ Love stories/ Romeo and Juliet
Based on the famous and tragic love story of Romeo
and Juliet, the book examines Juliet’s frustration as she comes to understand
her whole life is going to be determined by other people who will force her
into an arranged marriage from which there will be no escape. It also looks at
a young actor, 13- year- old Rob, who was the first boy to play the part of
Juliet on the Globe Theatre stage and his wonder at the power and beauty of
Shakespeare’s words. Like most of Jackie French’s work this is a thoughtful
book that many readers will enjoy simply for the compelling love story. Those who
read through the notes at the back of the book may find themselves revisiting
the play and being surprised at just how bawdy some of it is, written in an age
when talking about and making jokes about sex was the norm. ‘Shakespeare’ says
Jackie French ‘had far more freedom to write about his lovers than I do.’
In
the same vein watch for Ophelia, Queen of
Denmark (coming 2015) and Third Witch
(2016)
Year 8 up/ Age 12 up
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