Shortlisted for Book of the Month
family drama
Modern Day
Ah! Romeo and Juliet. We all know the story, don’t we? Perhaps not the whole story, it seems in Sue Barnard’s intriguing novel.
Modern Day
Ah! Romeo and Juliet. We all know the story, don’t we? Perhaps not the whole story, it seems in Sue Barnard’s intriguing novel.
The engaging and witty modern heroine,
Juliet Roberts, wants to give her grandfather a significant birthday present.
After all, at 100, he has or has had most ‘stuff’ or no longer wishes to have
or is no longer able to experience other pleasures. So for his birthday he asks
Juliet to translate an old manuscript from Italian to English; she’s had the
benefit of studying Italian at university.
She and we set off on a journey with Fra’
Lorenzo, Romeo, Giulietta and the entrancing Chiara between Venice, Verona and
Mantua into an alternative, but wholly credible version of the world’s most
famous love story. It seems that W. Shakespeare didn’t get the whole story…
A ‘ghostly father’ refers to a spiritual
parent, but look out for the subtlety of this name. Romeo is still a bit soppy
and Giulietta clever and courageous but adoring. Their love is obvious but
never over-sentimental.
While firmly keeping the writing fluent
and clear, Barnard uses a style that evokes a sense of the fifteenth century.
She sets the story well in the social mores and restraints of the time while
tempering it with the wisdom of the friars of St Francis. The research is
obvious – locations, clothes, food, religious practice, transport – but
integrated without the least hint of an info dump. This is a sure sign of a
good writer.
As a herb-gardener myself, I was more
than interested in the herbal medicine. I can smell the mint and lavender in
Fra’ Lorenzo’s garden. If I have a tiny criticism it’s that the friars are
universally kind-hearted, generous and self-sacrificing. Given the compulsion
some of them were under to go into holy orders, perhaps a little more
resentment would be realistic.
This is a gentle story, but intelligent
with its twists that are occasionally tantalising. I released a relieved breath
several times! And as a little icing, the story gives us a lovely speculative
reach between then and now; is Luigi Da Porto a strong link? Cleverly,
Barnard leaves it to us to decide.
Highly recommended
© Jessica Brown
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