The Tragical History of Romeus and Juliet is an English language narrative poem by Arthur Brooke, first published in 1562 by Richard Tottel, which was a key source for William Shakespeare’s Romeo and Juliet. It is a translation and adaptation of a French story by Pierre Boaistuau, itself derived from an Italian novella by Matteo Bandello. Bandello’s version of the Romeo and Juliet story appeared as “La sfortunata morte di due infelicissimi amanti” and it was published in Lucca (Italy) in 1554 in the second part of his Novelle. Matteo Bandello's novella was then adapted by Pierre Boaistuau before being translated into English by Arthur Brooke, and dramatized by William Shakespeare.