The Gentlemen of Verona by A. J. Cronin (For CBSE CLASS X)

The Gentlemen of Verona by A. J. Cronin

(For CBSE CLASS X)

About the Author

 A.J. Cronin was a doctor by occupation. He wrote his first novel Hatter’s Castle while he was recovering from ill-health. The novel was a grand success. After that he wrote a number of novels and short stories. Among his best known novels are: The citadel, The Key of the Kingdom and The Spanish Gardener.

About the Story:

This story is about two brothers who were made orphans in the days of war by the Germans. Their father, who was a famous singer was killed in the early days of the war and their house was destroyed by a bomb. They had a sister of twenty years and she suffered from tuberculosis of the spine. As she was in a hospital, the teen aged boys had to work very hard to save money to clear the bills of the hospitals. So the main theme of the story is devotion and sympathy for the sibling.

The secondary theme also runs in the story and that proves that the appearances are not always true. They may be deceptive. You cannot judge a person by the facial expression or the dress he or she wears. The narrator’s driver had not very good opinion about these two boys when they had stopped their car on their way to Verona.

The Detailed Summary of ‘The Gentlemen of Verona’ by A. J. Cronin

The narrator along with his companion drove through the foothills of the Alps and after sometime they were stopped by two boys who were selling strawberries on the outskirts of Verona. Luigi, the driver, advised the narrator not to buy fruit from them giving the reason that they could get better fruit in Verona. It also seemed that the driver did not like the shabby appearance and also the dress worn by the two boys. He expressed his disapproval by shrugging his shoulders.

One of the two boys had put on a worn jersey and cut-off khaki pants. The other had put on a shortened army tunic (an outer garment)

They had skinny frame (thin body), brown skins, tangled (uncombed) hair and dark earnest (full of sincerity) eyes. The narrator and his companion talked to the boys and discovered that they were brothers. The elder brother was Nicola of 13 and the younger, Jacopo, nearly 12. The narrator and his companion bought all the fruit from them and set off towards the town.

The next morning, thenarator saw those boys doing the job of shining shoes beside the fountain in the public square (open area/plaza). They also greeted the narrator, who came to know from the boys that they did different kinds of work to earn money. They also guide people to show the important places of the town like Julliet’s tomb and several other places of interest.

The narrator appointed the two boys their guide. Thus they started visiting the places and made rounds of the town.  The narrator’s interest was aroused again by their remarkable demeanour (appearance & behavior). They were childish and innocent in many ways. Jacob was lively and active as a squirrel while Nicola’s smile was attractive and prolonged. In spite of all, there was seriousness that was unusual on a teen ager’s face.

In the following week, the narrator and his friends remained in touch with them.

They also did little jobs for the narrator and his companion. For example, if they wanted a pack of American cigarettes or tickets for the opera or the name of good restaurant, they helped them.

The most remarkable quality of them was their ‘willingness to do work’. They shined shoes, sold fruit, newspapers, guided the tourists round the town and ran errands (odd jobs) without caring for the hot sun or any other adverse condition.

Once it was a windy (blowy) night and the narrator along with his friends found the two boys resting on the stone pavement beneath the lights in the deserted (without people) square.

Nicola sat upright feeling tired and bundle of newspapers lay at his feet.

Jacopa was asleep and his head rested upon his brother’s shoulder. It was nearly midnight time.

The next morning, the narrator went over to the fountain to have his shoes shined. He asked Nicola rather indirectly as to what they did with the money they earned. The narrator also added that they work so hard; they did not spend money on clothes and usually ate black bread and figs.

After listening that, Nicola looked sad and his colour on the face grew pale. The narrator told him that they must be saving to emigrate to the U.S.A. He spoke with an effort saying that they would like to go to the States, but they had game-plans. The narrator grew curious to know about the game plan. So he asked him to explain his game plan.

Smiling uncomfortably, he answered in a low voice, Just plans, sir.”

The narrator did not ask anything more and informed them that they were leaving the town on Monday. He also asked if they needed any help from them.

Nicola shook his head in refusal and Jacopa spoke at once, “Sir, every Sunday, we make a visit to the country to Poleta, 30 kilometers. Usually we hire bicycles. But tomorrow, since you are so kind, you might send us in your car.”

The narrator told Nicola that he would drive them out himself.

Nicola glaring at his younger brother told the narrator that he did not want to trouble him. The narrator assured him that it would not be any trouble to him.

Nicola said, “Very well” rather unwillingly.

The next afternoon, the narrator along with the two brothers drove to the tiny village that was set high upon the hillside. The narrator had imagined that Nicola would take him at some humble building, but after sometime the narrator was directed to stop at a large red roofed villa, surrounded by high stone walls. The narrator could hardly believe his eyes.

Before he could recover from surprise, the two brothers leaped from the car. They told the narrator that they would not take long time to return and suggested to him to go to the village café in the village for a drink.

After that, they disappeared beyond the corner of the wall.

After a few minutes, the narrator followed the way they went to and reached a grilled entrance and rang the bell. A nurse with steel-rimmed spectacles appeared.

He enquired about the two boys and then the nurse opened the door to allow the narrator come in.

After that, she took him in and with a smile told the narrator to look through the glass partition.

The two boys were seated at the bedside of a girl of about twenty. She was sitting upright, supported by pillows, wearing pretty lace jacket. She was listening to what her brothers were talking about. Her eyes were soft and tender. She had some resemblance with her brothers. There was a vase of wild flowers on the table, near a dish of …..and several books.

“Won’t you go in?” the nurse murmured, “Lucia will be pleased to see you.”

The narrator did not want to disturb their happy family, but he requested the nurse to tell him all she knew about the two brothers.

She eagerly explained to the narrator that the two brothers were quite alone except their sister Lucia, who was suffering from tuberculosis of the spine and was admitted for her treatment in the hospital there. She also told him that their father, a widower, was a famous singer who had been killed in the early part of the war. After that, a bomb destroyed their house and pushed them on road. They had been habitual of living a comfortable and cultured life. Lucia had herself been trained as a singer. But poverty made their life miserable. They faced starvation and scarcity of all the things. They had to remain exposed to the cold weather.

They did not give in and continued their struggle to survive and built a sort of shelter with their hands amidst the rubble.

After that the Germans ruled the city for three years and they developed hatred for the Germans. They also joined the resistance group. They came back when the war was over and the peace ruled the city. At that time, they came to know that their sister was suffering from tuberculosis of the spine.

After the nurse paused for a little time.

Their sister Lucia had been there in the hospital for the last twelve months for her treatment. She had made a good progress. The nurse hoped that one day she would walk on her feet and sing again.

The nurse further told the narrator that every week Lucia’s brothers had made the payment of hospital’s dues, but she did not know how the boys managed that.

After that, the narrator waited outside till the boys came back.

The narrator drove the boys to the city and during the journey no one uttered a word. The narrator wanted to respect their secret. Their devotion towards their sister had touched the narrator’s heart greatly. War had not broken their spirit. Their selfless action of helping Lucia and working beyond their capacity to pay the bills of the hospital had impressed the narrator beyond expectation. It was a great message and promise of a greater hope for the mankind.