The Two Gentlemen of Verona

Two best friends. One woman they both love. And a dog who steals every scene.

Shakespeare's first comedy is a charming, messy, and deeply strange play about the battle between friendship and love, featuring the most famous canine in all of English literature.

Valentine and Proteus are the "two gentlemen" of Verona, inseparable best friends. Valentine leaves for Milan, where he falls in love with Silvia, the duke's beautiful daughter. Proteus stays behind, supposedly in love with Julia—but when he is sent to Milan, he sees Silvia and immediately betrays his friend, his vows, and his own heart. He schemes to win Silvia for himself, even attempting to rape her in the woods. Valentine, exiled and living as an outlaw, watches in horror. But then something strange happens: Proteus apologizes, Valentine forgives him instantly, and everyone marries the right person. Even the faithful Julia, disguised as a page, gets her man.

This is Shakespeare at his most uneven and fascinating: a play that introduces themes he would explore for the rest of his career—disguise, betrayal, the conflict between love and friendship—but resolves them with a speed that leaves audiences baffled. And then there is Launce's dog, Crab, who steals the show and says nothing.

• Shakespeare's first comedy, written around 1590–1591

• The earliest play to feature a heroine disguised as a page (Julia), a device Shakespeare would use again in As You Like It and Twelfth Night

• Features the famous line "He is not the first gentleman of Verona who has been condemned to death for love"

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 the best friend is sometimes the one with four legs.

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 Two Gentlemen of Verona is believed to be Shakespeare's first comedy, written around 1590–1591. The play has never been one of his most popular; critics have pointed out its inconsistent tone, its rushed ending, and the troubling ease with which Valentine forgives Proteus's attempted rape. However, it is historically significant as a laboratory for themes and devices Shakespeare would perfect in later works. The character of Launce and his dog Crab are among Shakespeare's most beloved comic creations. Shakespeare's other major works include Romeo and Juliet, A Midsummer Night's Dream, Twelfth Night, and The Tempest. He died in 1616 at the age of 52 and is buried in Holy Trinity Church in Stratford-upon-Avon.