Blog Tour: Autumn in Verona – Tom Lloyd

The tragedy of Romeo and Juliet is one of the most famous tales ever told, but what if their violent delights did not end in such woe? What then for the star-crossed lovers, once doomed to burn so bright and brief?

Against the turbulent backdrop of early fifteenth century Italy, Romeo and Juliet return home after twenty years in exile. Accompanied by their two grown children and a bold young soldier, they arrive in a city still plagued by the bloody feud of their families. With old Lord Montague now dead however, is there a chance to finally end the bloodshed or will old enmities and new interests mean the death of all they love?

Blending fact, fiction and homage, against the backdrop of Duke Visconti’s campaign to dominate northern Italy, Shakespeare’s characters act in conjunction with real-life figures to ask “what if?” and forge a whole new future for the beleaguered city.

Tom Lloyd was born in 1979 in Berkshire. 

After a degree in International Relations he went straight into publishing where he still works. 

He never received the memo about suitable jobs for writers and consequently has never been a kitchen-hand, hospital porter, pigeon hunter, or secret agent. 

He lives in Oxford, isn’t one of those authors who gives a damn about the history of the font used in his books and only believes in forms of exercise that allow him to hit something. 

Visit him online at http://www.tomlloyd.co.uk.

My thoughts: I know of Tom Lloyd as a fantasy writer and a good one but this is something a bit different. What if Romeo and Juliet didn’t die? What if Romeo’s poison was a dud and Juliet woke up and found him still alive? Then they ran away, to Milan, where they found safety with the Duke and Romeo became a lawyer and now it’s twenty years later and they’re returning to Verona for the first time.

Accompanying their friend who has been sent to act as Governor of Verona by the Duke of Milan, Visconti (a real figure of the time), as advisors. They’re bringing their children, Estelle and Mercutio, to see their home city and potentially, maybe, reconcile with their families.

Verona is still a city divided between Capulet and Montague. Juliet’s parents still live and her father’s brutality seems to know no limits. Romeo’s parents are dead and a cousin now holds the title of Lord Montague. Street brawls and duels are still the norm and the ordinary folk live in fear.

But the return of the heirs to the houses offers a new way forward if the city is willing to try.

Capturing the essence and language of Shakespeare isn’t easy, I know, I’ve tried it, but this flows and is full of clever little references to not only Romeo & Juliet but other plays and poems, a delight for a nerd like me, but for the lay person too. Blending historical fact into Shakespearean fiction, this is an enjoyable and intelligent read.

*I was kindly gifted a copy of this book in exchange for taking part in the blog tour but all opinions remain my own.