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Searching for Juliet 2023
Searching for Juliet: The Lives and Deaths of Shakespeare's First Tragic Heroine is a 2023 publication by Sceptre, authored by Sophie Duncan, who serves as a research fellow at Magdalen College, Oxford. This work delves into the cultural, historical, and literary dimensions surrounding Juliet Capulet’s emergence, demise, and enduring influence.
The book has garnered favorable feedback from critics. In Literary Review, Kirsten Tambling referred to it as "a witty and illuminating account" that examines how Juliet has been interpreted, reworked, and reimagined in Western culture since her initial appearance in the 16th century up to today. The Times featured Sophie Elmhirst’s praise, calling it a "roving, animated quest," and noting that Duncan “approaches her subject from all angles, turning Juliet like a gem in the light.”
The Guardian’s Samantha Ellis labeled it an “invigorating cultural investigation of Shakespeare’s heroine,” describing Duncan as “an engaging guide to Juliet’s complex afterlives.” Jonathan Bate in The Daily Telegraph called the book “witty and scholarly.” Margreta de Grazia, reviewing for The Times Literary Supplement, described it as “a buoyant account,” emphasizing that “[Duncan's] book is richly informed by the ideological, commercial, political and personal motivations behind the many viewpoints she uncovers.” Rhodri Lewis of Prospect noted that “Duncan is a deft, compelling and thoroughly researched guide.”
A paperback version appeared in April 2024. In May 2024, the book was longlisted for the Society for Theatre Research Book Prize.
Details
- Publisher
- Sceptre (UK)
- ISBN
- 9781529365177
- Pages
- 320
