Skip to content

Romeo & Juliet [With CD]
Stock Photo: Cover May Be Different

Romeo & Juliet [With CD] Paperback - 2005

by William Shakespeare


About this book

Romeo and Juliet is one of the English playwright and poet William Shakespeare's most beloved and popular plays, remaining since its premiere one of the most performed as well. The story was derived by Shakespeare (1564 - 1616) from many sources. The version most contemporary to his own was the 1562 poem "The Tragicall History of Romeus and Juliet" by Arthur Brooke, which was an adaptation of a French piece by Pierre Boaistuau Boaistuau had adapted from the Italian. Indeed, aspects of the tragic story have recurred throughout Western literature since at least the third century. Shakespeare greatly intensified the pace of the story, compressed what initially unfolded over the course of several months into the space of five days--a period in which much transpires at daybreak, including the famous balcony scene where Romeo declares, "But soft, what light through yonder window breaks?/It is the east, and Juliet is the sun." 

The play tells the story of two young lovers from feuding families, the Capulets and the Montagues, whose love ultimately leads to their tragic deaths.

It opens with a street brawl between the Capulet and Montague households in Verona, Italy. Prince Escalus intervenes and declares that any future fighting will result in death. Romeo Montague, who is love-sick over a woman named Rosaline, attends a Capulet ball in disguise and falls in love with Juliet Capulet. Juliet also falls in love with Romeo, and they vow to marry the next day.

Friar Laurence agrees to secretly marry the two, hoping their union will end the feud between their families. However, things quickly take a turn for the worse when Tybalt, Juliet's cousin, challenges Romeo to a duel and kills Romeo's friend Mercutio. Romeo avenges Mercutio's death by killing Tybalt and is banished from Verona.

Juliet is forced to marry Count Paris but refuses and seeks Friar Laurence's help. He gives her a potion that will make her appear dead, and he plans to send word to Romeo of their plan to reunite after she wakes up. However, the message never reaches Romeo, and he hears only that Juliet is dead. He rushes to her tomb and kills himself, believing Juliet to be dead. When Juliet awakens and sees Romeo dead, she too takes her own life.

So, to sum up, over the course of five days, these two teenagers fall desperately in love (Juliet is 13 and Romeo is around 16), and six people, including both of them, end up dead. "For never was a story of more woe than this of Juliet and her Romeo."

Today, Romeo and Juliet remains one of Shakespeare's most popular and frequently performed plays, and it has been adapted into numerous films, operas, and other works of art. Some of the most famous movie adaptations of the play are: The 1986 classic directed by Franco Zeffirelli, Die in a Gunfight (2021) a modern adaptation, Romeo and Juliet: Beyond Words, a 2019 ballet adaptation, Shakespeare in Love, a 1998 movie interpretation of Shakespeare's life, Gnomeo & Juliet (2011) starring garden gnomes as the star crossed lovers, and the 1996 best reimagining ever, Romeo + Juliet with Claire Danes and Leonardo DiCaprio.

First Edition Identification

It is unknown when Shakespeare originally wrote the play, sometime between 1591 and 1595. Romeo and Juliet was first published as an unauthorized quarto in 1597, transcribed by actors who had performed it. A quarto is a small, inexpensive book, each printed sheet folded twice to produce eight pages, often sold in flimsy bindings or none at all. The first quarto was published by John Danter, who printed the first four sheets (his name appears on the imprint), and Edward Allde printed the final six sheets. The first published edition declared '"AN EXCELLENT conceited Tragedie of Romeo and Juliet, As it hath been often (with great applause) plaid publicly." The first extant direct record of the events of a production refer to a 1662 staging, in which the play was probably adapted or altered--adaptation was particularly popular in the 17th century. The first quarto edition is known as "Q1" and is considered a "bad quarto," as it contains numerous errors and textual inconsistencies. It is over one-fifth shorter than the second edition and includes linguistic and theatrical differences. There are five known copies of the Q1 of Romeo and Juliet. 

Other editions appeared later, but even the more authoritative versions, such as that of 1599--probably drawn from Shakespeare's manuscript copies--lack the detailed stage directions present in the actors' transcription; thus, modern editions incorporate several sources. 

The second quarto edition, known as "Q2," was published in 1599 and is considered the authoritative text. It includes a prologue and epilogue that were absent in Q1 and several other changes to the text. It is about 800 lines longer than Q1, and the title page claims it is the "Newly corrected, augmented, and amended" text.

In 1609 the text of the Q2 was reprinted, and referenced as the Q3. It was also reprinted in 1622 (Q4) and 16377 (Q5). It was also included in Shakespeare's First Folio, a collection of Shakespeare's plays published in 1623, seven years after his death. The First Folio version of the play is primarily based on the Q3 text but also includes a few additional lines and stage directions, some taken from theatrical prompt books and Q1. Other editions of the play were included in Folio 2 (1632), Folio 3 (1664), and Folio 4 (1685). 


Details

  • Title Romeo & Juliet [With CD]
  • Author William Shakespeare
  • Binding Paperback
  • Edition Pap/Com
  • Pages 370
  • Volumes 1
  • Language ENG
  • Publisher Mediafusion, Illinois
  • Date 2005-10
  • Illustrated Yes
  • ISBN 9781402201011 / 140220101X
  • Weight 0.93 lbs (0.42 kg)
  • Dimensions 8.02 x 5.99 x 1.02 in (20.37 x 15.21 x 2.59 cm)
  • Ages 03 to 07 years
  • Grade levels P - 2
  • Reading level 570
  • Library of Congress subjects Conflict of generations, Vendetta
  • Library of Congress Catalog Number 2005023286
  • Dewey Decimal Code 822.33

About the author

Advisory Board:

David Bevington is the Phyllis Fay Horton Distinguished Service Professor in the Humanities at the University of Chicago. A renowned text scholar, he has edited several Shakespeare editions including the Bantam Shakespeare in individual paperback volumes, The Complete Works of Shakespeare, (Longman, 2003), and Troilus and Cressida (Arden, 1998). He teaches courses in Shakespeare, Renaissance Drama, and Medieval Drama.

Barbara Gaines is the founder and Artistic Director of the Chicago Shakespeare Theater. She has directed over 25 productions at Chicago Shakespeare, and she serves on the artistic directorate of
Shakespeare's Globe Theatre in London as well as on Northwestern University's Board of Trustees.

Peter Holland is the McMeel Family Chair in Shakespeare Studies at the University of Notre Dame. One of the central figures in performance-oriented Shakespeare criticism, he has also edited many
Shakespeare plays, including A Midsummer Night's Dream for the Oxford Shakespeare series. He is also general editor of Shakespeare Survey and co-general editor (with Stanley Wells) of Oxford Shakespeare Topics.

Contributors:

Professor Douglas Lanier - Douglas Lanier is an Associate Professor of English at the University of New Hampshire. His publications include "Shakescorp Noir" in Shakespeare Quarterly 53.2 (Summer 2002) and "Nostalgia and Theatricality" in Shakespeare the Movie II (eds. Richard Burt and Lynda Boose, Routledge, 2003), and the book, Shakespeare and Modern Popular Culture (Oxford University Press, 2002).

Professor Jill Levenson - Jill L. Levenson is a Professor of English at Trinity College at the University of Toronto. She has written and edited numerous essays and books including Romeo and Juliet for the Manchester University Press's series Shakespeare in Performance (1987), Shakespeare and the Twentieth Century (with Jonathan Bate and Dieter Mehl), and the Oxford edition of Romeo and Juliet (2000). Currently she is writing a book on Shakespeare and modern drama for Shakespeare Topics, a series published by Oxford University Press.

Professor Lois Potter - Lois Potter is Ned B. Allen Professor of English at the University of Delaware. She has also taught in England, France, and Japan, attending and reviewing as many plays as possible. Her publications include the Arden edition of The Two Noble Kinsmen and Othello for the Manchester University Press's series Shakespeare in Performance.

Ms. Janet Suzman - Janet Suzman was trained at LAMDA and is an honorary associate artist of the Royal Shakespeare Company. Her work there has included The Wars of the Roses, As You Like It, The Taming of the Shrew, Much Ado About Nothing, Love's Labour's Lost, and The Merchant of Venice. She has been awarded numerous honorary degrees and was nominated for an Academy Award in 1971 for her performance in Nicholas and Alexandra. Her acclaimed 1990 direction of Othello in Johannesburg, South Africa is considered to be one of the most powerful productions of the play.

Mr. Andrew Wade - Andrew Wade was Head of Voice for the Royal Shakespeare Company, 1990 - 2003 and Voice Assistant Director from 1987-1990. During this time he worked on 170 productions and with more than 80 directors. Along with Cicely Berry, Andrew recorded Working Shakespeare, the DVD series on Voice and Shakespeare, and he was the verse consultant for the movie Shakespeare In Love. In 2000, he won a Bronze Award from the New York International Radio Festival for the series Lifespan, which he co-directed and devised. He works widely teaching, lecturing and coaching throughout the world.

Marie Macaisa is a lifelong fan of Shakespeare who has seen at least one theatrical production of nearly all his plays (she's waiting for Henry VIII). Her first career, lasting 20 years, was in high tech; she has a B.S. in Computer Science from MIT and a M.S. in Artificial Intelligence from the University of Pennsylvania. For the last two years, she has devoted herself to the Sourcebooks Shakespeare Experience.

Dominique Raccah is founder, president and publisher of Sourcebooks. Born in Paris, France, she has a bachelor's degree in psychology and a master's in quantitative psychology from the University of Illinois. She also serves as series editor of Poetry Speaks and Poetry Speaks to Children.

Back to Top

More Copies for Sale

Romeo and Juliet (The Sourcebooks Shakespeare; Book & CD)
Stock Photo: Cover May Be Different

Romeo and Juliet (The Sourcebooks Shakespeare; Book & CD)

by William Shakespeare

  • Used
  • Very Good
  • Paperback
Condition
Used - Very Good
Binding
Paperback
ISBN 10 / ISBN 13
9781402201011 / 140220101x
Quantity Available
1
Seller
Chicago, Illinois, United States
Seller rating:
This seller has earned a 4 of 5 Stars rating from Biblio customers.
Item Price
€1.87
€2.82 shipping to USA

Show Details

Description:
Sourcebooks MediaFusion, 2005-10-01. Paperback. Very Good. 1.2008 in x 7.7992 in x 5.9016 in. CD play not verfied.
Item Price
€1.87
€2.82 shipping to USA
Romeo and Juliet (The Sourcebooks Shakespeare; Book & CD)
Stock Photo: Cover May Be Different

Romeo and Juliet (The Sourcebooks Shakespeare; Book & CD)

by William Shakespeare

  • Used
  • Very Good
  • Paperback
Condition
Used - Very Good
Binding
Paperback
ISBN 10 / ISBN 13
9781402201011 / 140220101x
Quantity Available
1
Seller
Chicago, Illinois, United States
Seller rating:
This seller has earned a 4 of 5 Stars rating from Biblio customers.
Item Price
€1.87
€2.82 shipping to USA

Show Details

Description:
Sourcebooks MediaFusion, 2005-10-01. Paperback. Very Good. 1.2008 in x 7.7992 in x 5.9016 in. CD play not verified.
Item Price
€1.87
€2.82 shipping to USA
Romeo and Juliet (The Sourcebooks Shakespeare; Book & CD)
Stock Photo: Cover May Be Different

Romeo and Juliet (The Sourcebooks Shakespeare; Book & CD)

by William Shakespeare

  • Used
Condition
Used - Very Good
ISBN 10 / ISBN 13
9781402201011 / 140220101x
Quantity Available
1
Seller
Frederick, Maryland, United States
Seller rating:
This seller has earned a 4 of 5 Stars rating from Biblio customers.
Item Price
€4.38
€3.75 shipping to USA

Show Details

Description:
Sourcebooks MediaFusion. Used - Very Good. Very Good condition. With CD! A copy that may have a few cosmetic defects. May also contain a few markings such as an owner’s name, short gifter’s inscription or light stamp.
Item Price
€4.38
€3.75 shipping to USA
Romeo and Juliet
Stock Photo: Cover May Be Different

Romeo and Juliet

by Shakespeare, William

  • Used
Condition
Used - Good
ISBN 10 / ISBN 13
9781402201011 / 140220101x
Quantity Available
1
Seller
Reno, Nevada, United States
Seller rating:
This seller has earned a 5 of 5 Stars rating from Biblio customers.
Item Price
€4.69
FREE shipping to USA

Show Details

Description:
Sourcebooks, Incorporated. Used - Good. Former library book; may include library markings. Used book that is in clean, average condition without any missing pages.
Item Price
€4.69
FREE shipping to USA
Romeo and Juliet
Stock Photo: Cover May Be Different

Romeo and Juliet

by Shakespeare, William

  • Used
Condition
Used - Good
ISBN 10 / ISBN 13
9781402201011 / 140220101x
Quantity Available
1
Seller
Mishawaka, Indiana, United States
Seller rating:
This seller has earned a 5 of 5 Stars rating from Biblio customers.
Item Price
€4.69
FREE shipping to USA

Show Details

Description:
Sourcebooks, Incorporated. Used - Good. Used book that is in clean, average condition without any missing pages.
Item Price
€4.69
FREE shipping to USA
Romeo and Juliet (The Sourcebooks Shakespeare; Book & CD)
Stock Photo: Cover May Be Different

Romeo and Juliet (The Sourcebooks Shakespeare; Book & CD)

by William Shakespeare; Dominique Raccah (Series Editor) [Editor]; Marie Macaisa (Series Editor) [Editor]; Sir Derek Jacobi [Narrator]; Barbara Gaines (Advisor) [Contributor]; Peter Holland (Advisor) [Contributor]; David Bevington (Advisor) [Contributor];

  • Used
  • Good
  • Paperback
Condition
Used - Good
Binding
Paperback
ISBN 10 / ISBN 13
9781402201011 / 140220101X
Quantity Available
1
Seller
Hyattsville, Maryland, United States
Seller rating:
This seller has earned a 5 of 5 Stars rating from Biblio customers.
Item Price
€5.40
€4.03 shipping to USA

Show Details

Description:
Sourcebooks MediaFusion, 2005-10-01. Paperback. Good. 7x5x1. Unmarked trade paperback with unused CD.
Item Price
€5.40
€4.03 shipping to USA
Romeo and Juliet (The Sourcebooks Shakespeare; Book & CD)

Romeo and Juliet (The Sourcebooks Shakespeare; Book & CD)

by William Shakespeare

  • Used
  • Very Good
  • Paperback
Condition
Used - Very Good
Binding
Paperback
ISBN 10 / ISBN 13
9781402201011 / 140220101X
Quantity Available
2
Seller
Seattle, Washington, United States
Seller rating:
This seller has earned a 4 of 5 Stars rating from Biblio customers.
Item Price
€5.62
FREE shipping to USA

Show Details

Description:
Sourcebooks MediaFusion, 2005. Paperback. Very Good. May have limited writing in cover pages. Pages are unmarked. ~ ThriftBooks: Read More, Spend Less.Dust jacket quality is not guaranteed.
Item Price
€5.62
FREE shipping to USA
Romeo and Juliet (The Sourcebooks Shakespeare; Book & CD)
Stock Photo: Cover May Be Different

Romeo and Juliet (The Sourcebooks Shakespeare; Book & CD)

by William Shakespeare

  • Used
  • Good
  • Paperback
Condition
Used - Good
Binding
Paperback
ISBN 10 / ISBN 13
9781402201011 / 140220101X
Quantity Available
1
Seller
Newport Coast, California, United States
Seller rating:
This seller has earned a 5 of 5 Stars rating from Biblio customers.
Item Price
€34.33
FREE shipping to USA

Show Details

Description:
paperback. Good. Access codes and supplements are not guaranteed with used items. May be an ex-library book.
Item Price
€34.33
FREE shipping to USA
Romeo and Juliet (The Sourcebooks Shakespeare; Book & CD)
Stock Photo: Cover May Be Different

Romeo and Juliet (The Sourcebooks Shakespeare; Book & CD)

by William Shakespeare; Dominique Raccah (Series Editor) [Editor]; Marie Macaisa (Series Editor) [Editor]; Sir Derek Jacobi [Narrator]; Barbara Gaines (Advisor) [Contributor]; Peter Holland (Advisor) [Contributor]; David Bevington (Advisor) [Contributor];

  • New
  • Paperback
Condition
New
Binding
Paperback
ISBN 10 / ISBN 13
9781402201011 / 140220101X
Quantity Available
1
Seller
San Diego, California, United States
Seller rating:
This seller has earned a 5 of 5 Stars rating from Biblio customers.
Item Price
€95.08
€5.12 shipping to USA

Show Details

Description:
Sourcebooks MediaFusion, 2005-10-01. Paperback. New. New. In shrink wrap. Looks like an interesting title!
Item Price
€95.08
€5.12 shipping to USA