Arthur Brooke (poet) facts for kids

Arthur Brooke was an English poet who lived a long time ago. He is famous for writing a poem called The Tragical History of Romeus and Juliet. This poem was very important. It was a main source for William Shakespeare's famous play, Romeo and Juliet. Shakespeare's play was published in 1597.

Who Was Arthur Brooke?

Arthur Brooke was an English writer. He died on March 19, 1563. Not much is known about his early life. Some people think he might have been the son of Thomas Broke.

Brooke's Life and Work

Brooke became a member of a group called the Inner Temple. This was a place where lawyers and writers met. He joined because Thomas Norton and Thomas Sackville asked him to. They were famous writers of a play called Gorboduc. Brooke might have even written a special performance, called a masque, that went with their play.

Sadly, Arthur Brooke died in a shipwreck. This happened on March 19, 1563. He was traveling to Le Havre, a city in France. At the time, there were wars happening in France. Another person, Sir Thomas Finch, also died in the same shipwreck. Later, in 1567, a poet named George Turberville wrote a poem about Brooke. It was called An Epitaph on the Death of Master Arthur Brooke Drownde in Passing to New Haven.

The Tragical History of Romeus and Juliet

Arthur Brooke's most famous work is The Tragical History of Romeus and Juliet. It was published in 1562. This long poem tells a sad love story.

How the Story Came to Be

Brooke's poem was not entirely new. It was based on an older story. The original story was from Italy, written by Bandello. But Brooke used a French version of the story. This French version was written by Pierre Boaistuau. Brooke's poem was then printed by Richard Tottell.

Influence on Shakespeare

Brooke's poem became very popular. It was one of the main sources for William Shakespeare's play Romeo and Juliet. Shakespeare followed Brooke's version quite closely.

Other writers also used the story. In 1565, Bernard Garter wrote a poem called The Tragicall and True Historie which Happened betweene Two English Lovers. This poem was similar to Brooke's work. In 1567, a prose (story-like) version of Romeo and Juliet was printed. It was part of a collection of tales called The Palace of Pleasure. This collection was put together by William Painter.