Edited introduced & annotated by Cedric Watts Research Professor of English Literature University of Sussex The Wordsworth Classics' Shakespeare Series presents a newly-edited sequence of William Shakespeare's works The textual editing takes account of recent scholarship while giving the material a careful reappraisal Romeo & Juliet is the world's most famous drama of tragic young love Defying the feud which divides their families Romeo & Juliet enjoy the fleeting rapture of courtship marriage & sexual fulfilment; but a combination of old animosities & new coincidences brings them to suicidal deaths This play offers a rich mixture of romantic lyricism bawdy comedy intimate harmony & sudden violence Long successful in the theatre it has also generated numerous operas ballets & films; & these have helped to make Romeo & Juliet perennially topical