A review by jan_coco_day
Juliet: The Life and Afterlives of Shakespeare's First Tragic Heroine by Sophie Duncan

informative

4.0

Duncan expertly tracks Juliet's innumerable incarnations from the (male) actors the role was written for, to society's obsession with dead girls, to how she is a symbol of almost anything throughout history from colonial powers to rebellion, from ancient values to current values (fun fact: fascist Italy used Juliet as a symbol of their values--even though she couldn't be more antifascist). Duncan even profiles real couples who have been named "Romeos" and "Juliets" in recent history. 

In searching for Juliet, Duncan searches for the soul of womanhood and sacrifice. 

One of my best reads of 2023.