The Merchant of Venice

By David Bevington, David Scott Kastan, William Shakespeare | Publisher: Random House Publishing Group

About the book

This is one of Shakespeare’s darkest comedies, for the romantic story of a young man, Bassanio, who has squandered his fortune and must borrow money to woo the wealthy lady he loves is set against the more disturbing story of the Jewish moneylender Shylock and his demand for the “pound of flesh” owed him by the Venetian merchant, Antonio. Here pathos and farce combine with moral complexity and romantic entanglement to display the extraordinary power and range of Shakespeare at his best.

Each Edition Includes:
• Comprehensive explanatory notes
• Vivid introductions and the most up-to-date scholarship
• Clear, modernized spelling and punctuation, enabling contemporary readers to understand the Elizabethan English
• Completely updated, detailed bibliographies and performance histories
• An interpretive essay on film adaptations of the play, along with an extensive filmography

Editions of The Merchant of Venice

Paperback
ISBN 9780553212990
Paperback
ISBN 9780553383515
EBook
ISBN 9780307422163

Read an Excerpt

This is one of Shakespeare’s darkest comedies, for the romantic story of a young man, Bassanio, who has squandered his fortune and must borrow money to woo the wealthy lady he loves is set against the more disturbing story of the Jewish moneylender Shylock and his demand for the “pound of flesh” owed him by the Venetian merchant, Antonio. Here pathos and farce combine with moral complexity and romantic entanglement to display the extraordinary power and range of Shakespeare at his best.

Each Edition Includes:
• Comprehensive explanatory notes
• Vivid introductions and the most up-to-date scholarship
• Clear, modernized spelling and punctuation, enabling contemporary readers to understand the Elizabethan English
• Completely updated, detailed bibliographies and performance histories
• An interpretive essay on film adaptations of the play, along with an extensive filmography

Frequently Asked Questions

What is The Merchant of Venice about?

This is one of Shakespeare’s darkest comedies, for the romantic story of a young man, Bassanio, who has squandered his fortune and must borrow money to woo the wealthy lady he loves is set against the more disturbing story of the Jewish moneylender Shylock and his demand for the “pound of flesh” owed him by the Venetian merchant, Antonio. Here pathos and farce combine with moral complexity and romantic entanglement to display the extraordinary power and range of Shakespeare at his best.

Each Edition Includes:
• Comprehensive explanatory notes
• Vivid introductions and the most up-to-date scholarship
• Clear, modernized spelling and punctuation, enabling contemporary readers to understand the Elizabethan English
• Completely updated, detailed bibliographies and performance histories
• An interpretive essay on film adaptations of the play, along with an extensive filmography

What core themes, tropes, or subjects are explored in The Merchant of Venice?

Biography, Literature and Literary studies > Plays, playscripts, drama

Where can I read a sample of The Merchant of Venice?

You can read an official preview of the few pages here https://www.book2look.com/book/9780553212990

Who is/are the Author/s of the book The Merchant of Venice?

David Bevington, David Scott Kastan, William Shakespeare

Who is the Publisher of the book The Merchant of Venice?

Random House Publishing Group

What are the ISBN numbers for the physical and digital editions?

The Merchant of Venice is available as paperback(ISBN 9780553212990) and paperback(ISBN 9780553383515) and ebook(ISBN 9780307422163)

Where can I buy The Merchant of Venice online or support local independent bookshops?

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Where can I buy The Merchant of Venice?