JULIET'S ANSWER

A true story about Italy and love, about Romeo and Juliet and one man who becomes the lone male amongst the legendary secretaries of Juliet.

ITourists come to Verona in droves, attracted by the food and the culture, and the connection to Romeo and Juliet. There's a balcony purported to be Juliet's - though any astute observer can see that it is a modern addition. In front of the balcony is a much-fondled statue as well as a bright red letter box. About 10,000 letters arrive here every year, mailed from all over the world to the star-crossed lover herself. All of the missives are answered by a dedicated group of women who have been, for decades now, known as the secretaries of Juliet. Over the course of two glorious summers Glenn Dixon is finally welcomed as the lone male in the group.

Though a relative expert on Shakespeare after 20 years as a high school teacher, Glenn was jaded about love and quickly overwhelmed by the pressure to offer hope and wisdom. But tutored by Giovanna Tamassia, who inherited the solemn duty from her father, Glenn slowly discovered that the letters have the power to transform lives, his included.

Between the first awkward visit and the second, a year later, Dixon experienced a terrible betrayal in a relationship that had lasted almost twenty years. He returned to Verona with someone equally distraught, a friend named Desiree. This time they both answered letters and found, eventually, the answers they had been searching for. Throughout the book, Dixon weaves in the stories of teaching Romeo and Juliet, and the parallels between this classic tale and his own life grow until they can no longer be ignored. He dabbles too in the latest research on love, in a desperate bid for understanding.

Juliet's Answer provides a unique male perspective on love both unrequited and fulfilled, and how understanding can be found in the most unlikely places. Through his vivid descriptions of the city and the secretaries, he invites the reader to travel with him on a flight of fancy—to Verona, yes, but more importantly to a place where love might flourish, offering the perfect antidote to the tragedy of Romeo and his Juliet. Through this and an ensemble cast of students discovering Romeo and Juliet for the first time, the universal and timeless lessons of both literature and love are revealed.

GLENN DIXON is the author of two previous works of non-fiction: Pilgrim in the Palace of Words: A Journey Through the 6,000 Languages of Earth and Tripping the World Fantastic: A Journey Through the Music of Our Planet. AUTHOR'S WEBSITES: www.tripping-the-world.com and www.pilgrim-in-the-palace.com

Book trailer: https://vimeo.com/185525738