The Rape of Lucrece

A prince commits an unspeakable act. A woman takes her own life. And a kingdom rises from her blood.

Shakespeare's second narrative poem is a masterpiece of psychological terror, a dark, relentless exploration of shame, honor, and the violence that men do to women's bodies.

Tarquin, the arrogant son of the King of Rome, burns with lust for Lucrece, a beautiful and virtuous Roman matron. He travels to her home, where she welcomes him as a guest. That night, he steals into her bedroom and rapes her. The next morning, Lucrece sends for her husband and her father. She tells them what happened. And then, in front of them, she stabs herself to death. Her body becomes a symbol. Her husband and father carry it through the streets of Rome. The people rise. The king is overthrown. And the Roman Republic is born.

This is Shakespeare at his most disturbing and lyrical: a poem about the gap between male desire and female suffering, about the politics of the body, and about whether a woman's death can ever be redeemed by a nation's freedom. The Rape of Lucrece is not an easy read—but it is an essential one.

• Published in 1594, dedicated to the Earl of Southampton (Shakespeare's patron)

• Written during the plague years, when London's theaters were closed

• One of the most detailed and psychologically nuanced depictions of sexual violence in English Renaissance literature

Available in multiple formats:

• Paperback & Hardcover: Beautifully designed print editions presenting the complete, unabridged text made to last.

• Ebook: DRM-free EPUB compatible with Kindle, Kobo, Apple Books, and all major e-readers.

• Audiobook: Professionally narrated, complete and unabridged, available on all major audiobook platforms.

A beautifully crafted edition for your shelf, your device, or your ears, or the perfect gift for anyone who knows that some acts cannot be undone, and some stories should not be forgotten.

About the Author

William Shakespeare (1564–1616) was an English playwright, poet, and actor, widely regarded as one of the greatest writers in the English language. Born in Stratford-upon-Avon, he moved to London and became a shareholder in the Lord Chamberlain's Men (later the King's Men). The Rape of Lucrece was published in 1594, following the success of his first narrative poem, Venus and Adonis (1593). Both poems were written when London's theaters were closed due to plague, and both were dedicated to Henry Wriothesley, the Earl of Southampton, Shakespeare's patron. The poem is based on Ovid's Fasti and Livy's History of Rome. It was enormously popular in Shakespeare's lifetime, going through many editions. The poem's depiction of Lucrece's internal struggle—her shame, her anger, her determination to die rather than live with dishonor—has been celebrated and critiqued by feminist scholars for centuries. Shakespeare's other major works include Hamlet, Romeo and Juliet, King Lear, and The Tempest. He died in 1616 at the age of 52 and is buried in Holy Trinity Church in Stratford-upon-Avon.