Juliet's Nurse by Lois Leveen

This is the first book I've read by this author and right away I was impressed with her rare talent. The story, based on Shakespeare’s most famous play, is written with eloquent and vivid language. Through the eyes of a wet-nurse, we get to know the stories of two households, her and her employer. The stories are skillfully entwined.

The story is richly imagined with well-researched historical period of Middle Ages Verona. The time when love is only meant for poor; when rich women are the tools for giving birth to male babies. She also presents ‘the other side of the story’ of Juliet’s cousin, what it means for a young boy to lose his mother, while she was giving a birth to another child.

The author paints beautifully a picture of a woman, who is busy with household choirs; which she doesn’t enjoy but must do, with no spare minute for herself. When time changes, with plenty time to spare, she starts missing her household, and then admits, “Hard as I’ve always had to work, I’ve never been any good at being idle.”

The story is spiced with medicinal herbs, honey comfit, needlework, customs and more. It has some twists and turns, which make the read very interesting.

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