Two Gentlemen of Verona
by A. J. Cronin
Rapid Learn 2-Minute Revision
Perfect for last-minute revision
- The Encounter: The narrator meets Nicola and Jacopo outside Verona.
- The First Trade: Despite his driver’s warning, the narrator buys wild strawberries from them.
- The Mystery: The boys work incessantly, selling newspapers, shining shoes, and guiding tourists.
- Frugal Life: They barely eat, living on black bread and figs to save every penny.
- The Request: Jacopo asks for a lift to Poleta, 30 kilometres away.
- The Revelation: The “villa” in Poleta is a hospital where their sister, Lucia, is being treated.
- The Trauma: Their father was a widower killed in the war; their home was bombed.
- The Heroism: The boys joined the resistance movement before dedicating their lives to Lucia’s cure (Tuberculosis).
Detailed Summary
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Two ragged but industrious boys
The narrator and his driver, Luigi, meet two brothers, Nicola (13) and Jacopo (12), who appear shabby but possess "earnest" eyes. Over several days, the narrator is amazed by their "unremitting" industry. They perform every job imaginable, from "vending" newspapers at midnight to guiding tourists through the "tomb of Juliet."
The revelation at Poleta
The narrator, sensing a deep secret, drives them to Poleta on a Sunday. There, instead of a humble cottage, he finds a grand villa-turned-hospital. He watches through a window as the boys visit their sister, Lucia, a trained singer now suffering from Tuberculosis of the spine. A nurse reveals their history: the war had taken their father and home, leaving them to live in a shelter of rubble. Despite their suffering, the boys refused to become beggars. The narrator is so moved by their "silent dignity" that he decides not to intrude on their secret, recognizing that these "Two Gentlemen" have provided a new hope for humanity.