Chapter 1: Two Gentlemen of Verona
A.J. Cronin — Devotion, Sacrifice & Nobility of Soul — CBSE Marking Scheme 2026-27
The two brothers undertook an astonishing variety of arduous jobs in post-war Verona: they sold wild strawberries on the outskirts of the town, shined shoes in the public square, hawked newspapers late into the cold night at bus stops, conducted foreign tourists to historical sights like Juliet's tomb, and ran errands for merchants.
Their father, a well-known singer, was killed in the early stages of the war. A bomb destroyed their comfortable home, leaving Nicola, Jacopo, and their sister Lucia homeless and starving. The boys joined the resistance movement against the German occupation, living in the rubble. After the war ended, they returned to find Lucia suffering from tuberculosis of the spine.
Despite earning good money from multiple jobs, the boys dressed in ragged clothes and ate black bread and figs. Every single penny they earned was saved to pay for Lucia's expensive hospitalization, specialized nursing, and medical treatment at the hospital villa in Poleta, determined to cure her so she could sing again.
The narrator observed how fiercely proud, dignified, and self-reliant the boys were. They never sought pity or charity, keeping their sister's illness a closely guarded family secret. The narrator felt that telling them he knew would hurt their pride and compromise their delicate sense of dignity, so he honored their noble reserve in silence.
1. Subverting Conventional Gentlemanliness:
A 'gentleman' is traditionally defined by high social standing, aristocratic pedigree, refined clothing, and leisure. In stark contrast, Nicola (thirteen) and Jacopo (twelve) were scruffy, ragged street urchins covered in shoe polish and grime. Yet, the author bestows upon them the title 'Gentlemen of Verona' because true gentlemanliness resides in moral character, integrity, and selflessness.
2. Immense Sacrifice and Resilience:
Bereft of parents, home, and childhood, the two boys refused to succumb to despair, crime, or begging. Instead, they took up backbreaking labor with stoic cheerfulness. They endured starvation and freezing night winds solely to keep their invalid sister alive.
3. Moral Hope for Humanity:
The narrator reflects that their quiet, uncomplaining devotion gave humanity a promise of hope for human society in a broken post-war world. Their self-sacrifice, pride, and unconditional sibling love represent the purest nobility known to mankind.
Nicola, at thirteen, is serious, mature, cautious, and protective of family pride; he feels embarrassed when Jacopo asks the narrator for a car ride to Poleta. Jacopo, at twelve, is lively, impulsive, cheerful like a bird, and openly expressive. Nicola provides the responsible anchor and strategic leadership, while Jacopo infuses joyful energy into their harsh daily existence.