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The most exciting historical retelling of 2023: a subversive, powerful untelling of Romeo and Juliet by New York Times bestselling author Natasha Solomons.
Was the greatest ever love story a lie?
The first time Romeo Montague sees young Rosaline Capulet he falls instantly in love. Rosaline, headstrong and independent, is unsure of Romeo's attentions but with her father determined that she join a convent, this handsome and charming stranger offers her the chance of a different life.
Soon though, Rosaline begins to doubt all that Romeo has told her. She breaks off the match, only for Romeo's gaze to turn towards her cousin, thirteen-year-old Juliet. Gradually Rosaline realizes that it is not only Juliet's reputation at stake, but her life. With only hours remaining before she will be banished behind the nunnery walls, will Rosaline save Juliet from her Romeo? Or can this story only ever end one way?
Shattering everything we thought we knew about Romeo and Juliet, Fair Rosaline is the spellbinding prequel to Shakespeare's best known tale, which exposes Romeo as a predator with a long history of pursuing much younger girls. Bold, lyrical, and chillingly relevant, Fair Rosaline reveals the dark subtext of the timeless story of star-crossed lovers: it's a feminist revision that will enthrall readers of bestselling literary retellings such as Hamnet by Maggie O'Farrell and Hester by Laurie Lico Albanese.
Coming Soon.
Here are some of the comments posted about Fair Rosaline.
You can see the full discussion here.
"I sense another plague coming to the wicked men of Verona." What was your reaction to this statement?
Revenge! Despite the consecrated women maintaining their own cloistered environment, they still were active members of the town and quite well-informed as to the evils lurking among the patriarchal society of Verona and surrounding villages. ... - julib
Can you think of a character whose advice either of the girls might have respected?
I agree with those above that think Rosaline would have listened to her mother. She clearly worshipped and loved her mother and would be strongly influenced by her mothers words. - PKH
Did Fair Rosaline change your interpretation of Romeo and Juliet at all? What about the author's note?
It's been a long time since I read the play but I recall it told the tale of two young lovers, but this book clearly is making me rethink my interpretation, it certainly does not leave a nice impression of Romeo. - PKH
Did you learn anything new about the time period in which the story is set?
The really interesting thing I realized was the difference in the two cultures of Italy where is was set and England where it was seen. Different attitudes and England probably being far more open minded. Even though S. had never been to Italy he ... - juleyh
Do you feel Rosaline would have been enamored of Romeo if she wasn't slated for the convent?
Rosaline enjoyed a very easy relationship with Tybalt, yet was naive to other pursuant men and no match for the evil eyes of Romeo that I believe knew of many maidens in the area and took interest in those easily conquered with flowery-language and ... - julib
Elodie Harper, Sunday Times bestselling author of The Wolf Den
I have not been able to stop thinking about this book ... Fair Rosaline is a gripping, spellbinding and wonderfully immersive book - and one that truly makes you think. I would be very surprised if everyone is not talking about it. Jennifer Saint, Sunday Times bestselling author of Ariadne
Irresistible. An excellent spin on a timeless classic. Jillian Cantor, USA Today bestselling author of Beautiful Little Fools
A brilliant, feminist re-imagining of Romeo and Juliet, Fair Rosaline is a gorgeously written version of Verona from Juliet's cousin, Rosaline's, point of view. What does Romeo truly look like through the eyes of a woman on the periphery of the original story? Natasha Solomons skillfully shows us another version of the star-crossed lovers - and the Romeo --we all think we know. I absolutely devoured this thought-provoking, female-centric take on Shakespeare.
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