Ambition
Published on 21. November 2025
Book
Paperback/Softback
532 pages
978-1-7643534-8-9 (ISBN)
Description
The epic prequel continues.
The year is 1452. The civil trial and holy inquisition which followed the deadly duel in Verona are done. The House of Montecchi seems broken, their fallen prima donna now vanished as Romeo's father and mother take control of their embattled faction. And though the Capulets have emerged as victors, Armand and Ilaria must make a critical decision. Promising limitless power and prestige, their unpredictable new associate, Duchess Yolanthe de Paris, is pressing them to commit to a breathtaking trade alliance. But as the mercenary young siren attempts to tighten her grip on the Capulets, she also insists that life-changing conditions must be attached to their agreement.
What's more, her staggering offer can only be contemplated if some kind of lasting peace can be negotiated with the Montecchis, just at the moment their reputation appears to have been crushed by the Capulets. A cascade of fateful events unfold which draw the epic journey on as the lure of potential and promises spurs elite ambitions. Particularly for Ilaria de Capulet - daughter of merchants - hoping to create an empire with Armand that her parents would find inspiring. A provocative challenge from Prince Escalus and Princess Florentia may hold the key to just how promising those hopes may be. Yet hidden from all sight, hope is stirring in other hearts too, a much darker hope, driven by a ruthless sense of ambition.
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Person
I conceived this project in Boston during the summer of '92 while producing my first Shakespeare (Romeo & Juliet). It was staged at the Huntington Theatre Studio and sold out before we opened. That was when the notion of a prequel was born that would reveal how the famous families came to be at each other's throats, and how the associations between so many characters were first formed. The full story frame of Capulet (6 books) was written over 4 years writing 7 days a week 7 hours a day with just a few exceptions.For the trivial record, my first experience with Shakespeare was as a punishment in my last year of high school. I was given a detention for fighting (a bully was harassing a friend and though I'm no hero I intervened). The English Mistress who caught us made me memorise the 'quality of mercy' monologue from The Merchant of Venice. It had to be word perfect to avoid another stay. She told me it wasn't word perfect. But she said I was 'good' and would let me off if I agreed to audition for the play. I did. Somehow I managed to get the lead.That led me to a BA in Drama at the University of Queensland. UQ led me to a BFA in Acting at Cornish College in the USA. That led to specialised study at the National Shakespeare Conservatory in NY (closed after 9/11) and finally an MFA scholarship to study Directing at Boston University. Fast forward 25 years. I began this project in earnest during the last few months of the pandemic.I hope their tale moves you as I found it very moving to write.Marcus Hogan