Letters to Juliet ─ Celebrating Shakespeare's Greatest Heroine, the Magical City of Verona, and the Power of Love

The enduring legend of Shakespeare’s pair of star-crossed lovers draws millions of visitors to Verona, Italy, each year. But that is just part of the story. Every day, letters, frequently addressed simply, “Juliet, Verona,” arrive in the city. They come by the truckload, in almost every language imaginable, written by romantics seeking Juliet’s counsel. Most of the missives talk of love, of course —love found and love lost, love sought and love remembered. And, amazingly, not one letter goes unanswered.
Letters to Juliet tells the story of these letters and the volunteers who have been writing responses for more than seven decades —volunteers who first acted privately, and who are now sanctioned by the city of Verona as part of the Juliet Club . Featuring more than seventy-five heartfelt letters, this poetic book retraces the history behind Shakespeare’s tale and tours the monuments that have fueled the world's enchantment with Juliet and her Romeo.

Lise Friedman, a former dancer with Merce Cunningham, was the editor of the quarterly Dance Ink and is the author of First Lessons in Ballet, Break a Leg!: The Kid's Guide to Acting and Stagecraft, and STC's Alvin Ailey Dance Moves!: A New Way to Exercise.?She lives in New York City.

Ceil Friedman is a freelance art historian and translator who writes extensively about contemporary art. She lives in Verrona, where she has collaborated for several years with the Verona City Museums and other institutions in Italy.