The Tragicall Historye of Romeus and Juliet is a narrative poem, first published in 1562 by Arthur Brooke, who is reported to have translated it from an Italian novella by Matteo Bandello

Matteo Bandello

-Biography:Matteo Bandello was born at Castelnuovo Scrivia, near Tortona , c. 1480 or 1485. He received a good education, and entered the church, but does not seem to have been very interested in theology. For many years he lived at Mantua, and superintended the education of the celebrated Lucrezia...

. Romeus and Juliet was the key source for William Shakespeare

William Shakespeare

William Shakespeare was an English poet and playwright, widely regarded as the greatest writer in the English language and the world's pre-eminent dramatist. He is often called England's national poet and the "Bard of Avon"...

’s Romeo and Juliet. Little is known about Arthur Brooke, except that he drowned in 1563 by shipwreck while crossing to help Protestant forces in France.

Source study and comparisons can be found in the introduction in the edition listed below.

The poem's ending differs significantly from Shakespeare's play--the nurse is banished and the apothecary is hanged for their involvement in the deception.

External links

• Arthur Brooke's Romeus and Juliet Complete original text, with a glossary and a search engine.
• Essay: How Romeus Became Romeo Comparing Brooke's work with Shakespeare's