Romeo and Juliet

Romeo and Juliet, based on the play by William Shakespeare, adapted and illustrated by Gareth Hinds (Walker Books)
Paperback Flap RRP $ 22.95
ISBN 9780763668075
Reviewed by Anastasia Gonis

Shakespeare’s superb tragic love story is made accessible to a new generation in the easy to understand form of the graphic novel. Having retold classics such as The Odyssey, King Lear, The Merchant of Venice and Beowulf, Gareth Hinds has proven himself a gifted creator of children’s /young adult graphic novels which can definitely be enjoyed by readers of all ages. His skilled storytelling and vivid portrayals of the characters through his illustrations can be revisited by lovers of the classics (and everyone else) and be moved afresh by these immortal stories.

In this beautifully created fold-over flap edition, Gareth Hinds uses multicultural characters ‘in order to reflect how universal this story is’. Although the complete text has been abridged to accommodate the structure of the book, Hinds has remained faithful to Shakespeare’s iambic pentameter and retained the essence of the story. The master’s talent for puns, double-meanings and play on words will make you smile once again.