
Set in the bustling market square of Verona, a city divided by an ancient rivalry, this timeless tale opens with a chorus that warns of blood‑soaked feuds and doomed love. The Montagues and Capulets, each powerful and proud, clash through heated confrontations among their servants, friends, and kin, painting a vivid portrait of a world where honor and hatred rule daily life. Amid the clang of swords and the chatter of townsfolk, a young Romeo first appears, his heart already tangled in the restless spirit of the city.
Soon, the audience meets Juliet, the bright‑eyed daughter of the Capulets, whose fate becomes intertwined with Romeo’s despite the bitter enmity surrounding them. Their secret encounters hint at a love both tender and dangerous, promising a passionate struggle against the forces that seek to keep them apart. As the first act unfolds, the stage is set for a story of hope, conflict, and the fragile promise of a union that could change everything.
Language
nl
Duration
~2 hours (170K characters)
Publisher of text edition
Project Gutenberg
Credits
Produced by Jeroen Hellingman and the Online Distributed Proofreading Team at http://www.pgdp.net/ for Project Gutenberg.
Release date
2015-09-04
Rights
Public domain in the USA.

1564–1616
Often called the greatest writer in the English language, this English playwright and poet created dramas and verses that still feel alive on the page and stage. His stories of ambition, love, jealousy, power, and loss continue to speak to readers centuries later.
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