Fair Rosaline: THE DARK, CAPTIVATING AND SUBVERSIVE UNTELLING OF SHAKESPEARE'S ROMEO AND JULIET
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By Natasha Solomons
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2 reviews
One of the most anticipated novels of the year – the captivating and powerful untelling of Romeo & Juliet . . .
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 realises 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?
A subversive, powerful untelling of Shakespeare’s best-known tale, narrated by a fierce, forgotten voice: this is Rosaline’s story.
Hamnet meets My Dark Vanessa in this fierce, feminist, intensely gripping novel; captivating and chillingly relevant, FAIR ROSALINE takes everything you thought you knew about Romeo and Juliet and turns it on its head . . .‘Irresistible. An excellent spin on a timeless classic’
Jennifer Saint
‘I have not been able to stop thinking about this book . . . Fair Rosaline is a gripping, spellbinding and wonderfully immersive’
Elodie Harper
‘Brilliant and beguiling . . . A terrific novel – very clever and alluring’
William Boyd
‘Thought-provoking . . . a rich and atmospheric’
Katherine J. Chen, author of Joan
‘A gripping story of female agency and strength. Rosaline is a compelling heroine and I was rooting for her from the first page’
Isabelle Schuler, author of Lady Macbethad
‘Intelligent, imaginative, irreverent. A gripping Romeo and Juliet for the 21st century’
Annabel Abbs
‘A brilliant, feminist re-imagining of Romeo and Juliet. I absolutely devoured this’
Jillian Cantor, USA Today bestselling author of Beautiful Little Fools
‘Exquisitely written, wonderfully lyrical and richly immersive – this a story we all know made fresh and chillingly relevant’
Ellery Lloyd
‘A deliciously dark take on the iconic love story’
Woman & Home
‘A dark, powerful and thought-provoking novel’
Culture Fly
SELECTED AS ONE TO WATCH IN 2023 IN THE EVENING STANDARD
EDITOR’S CHOICE IN THE BOOKSELLER
ONE OF THE BEST BOOKS FOR AUGUST IN THE I NEWSPAPER
Reviews
A brilliant re-telling of a story we think we know. Rosaline is a strong-willed young woman and a believable character. However she is trapped by the expectations of her family, the time and her gender. Struggling from these nets she makes a serious error of judgment by becoming infatuated by Romeo. It has disastrous consequences for herself and her family. Natasha Solomons explains some of her reasoning for portraying the characters as she places an intriguing spin on Shakespeare's play. She built up the tension to the fight scene marvellously and the whole book is beautifully written. It's maybe not a love story in the traditional sense but the pages are full of love and friendship. I thought the ending wonderful.
Richly written - so interesting to see the absent Rosaline from Romeo and Juliet be given her own story. It was fun seeing this story unfold along the original R&J timeline.
