While the word “gentlemen” suggests that its heroes are adults, The Two Gentlemen of Verona is more intelligible if we think of them as boys, leaving home for the first time. One has a crush on a girl, Julia, though he hasn’t yet told her. Sent to court to learn to be “perfect gentlemen,” Valentine and Proteus are derailed by their attraction to Sylvia, the ruler’s daughter. Valentine’s mental denseness does not deter Sylvia from returning his love, but he is caught, and banished, when he tries to elope with her. Proteus’ desire for Sylvia wipes out his former love, leading him into despicable acts that win scorn from Sylvia and wound Julia, who has pursued him disguised as a boy. When Sylvia follows Valentine into banishment, Proteus follows Sylvia, and Julia follows Proteus, the stage is set for a disturbing ending. But the stage is also set for the “gentlemen” to take small steps toward maturity. The authoritative edition of The Two Gentlemen of Verona from The Folger Shakespeare Library, the trusted and widely used Shakespeare series for students and general readers, includes: -The exact text of the printed book for easy cross-reference -Hundreds of hypertext links for instant navigation -Freshly edited text based on the best early printed version of the play -Full explanatory notes conveniently placed on pages facing the text of the play -Scene-by-scene plot summaries -A key to the play’s famous lines and phrases -An introduction to reading Shakespeare’s language -An essay by a leading Shakespeare scholar providing a modern perspective on the play -Fresh images from the Folger Shakespeare Library’s vast holdings of rare books -An annotated guide to further reading Essay by Jeffrey Masten The Folger Shakespeare Library in Washington, DC, is home to the world’s largest collection of Shakespeare’s printed works, and a magnet for Shakespeare scholars from around the globe. In addition to exhibitions open to the public throughout the year, the Folger offers a full calendar of performances and programs. For more information, visit Folger.edu.

The tragedy of Romeo and juliet - the greatest love story ever.

Samuel Taylor Coleridge (1772–1834) was an English poet, theologian, literary critic, philosopher, and co-founder of the English Romantic Movement. He was also a member of the famous Lake Poets, together with William Wordsworth and Robert Southey. Coleridge had a significant influence on the the work of Ralph Waldo Emerson and American Transcendentalism in general, and played an important role in bringing German idealist philosophy to the English-speaking world. He was also an influential critic, garnering particular esteem for his critical work regarding William Shakespeare, which helped usher in a revival of interest in Shakespeare's plays and poetry. This volume contains a collection of Coleridge's lectures on Shakespeare, which he delivered up and down the country. Highly recommended for students and others with an interest in Shakespeare or Coleridge's work. Contents include: “Greek Drama”, “Progress of the Drama”, “The Drama Generally, and Public Taste”, “Shakespeare, a Poet Generally”, “Shakespeare's Judgment Equal to his Genius”, “Recapitulation, and Summary of the Characteristics of Shakespeare's Dramas”, “Outline of an Introductory Lecture upon Shakespeare”, “Order of Shakespeare's Plays”, “Notes on the 'Tempest'”, “'Love's Labour's Lost'”, “'Midsummer Night's Dream'”, “'Comedy of Errors'”, “'As You Like It'”, “'Twelfth Night'”, “'All's Well that Ends Well'”, etc.