Black Classics: The Merchant of Venice

‘The man who of all modern, and perhaps ancient poets, hadthe largest and most comprehensive soul’ John Dryden

Antonio, a Venetian merchant, wishes to help his friend get money to impress arich heiress. But he is forced to borrow the sum from a cynical, abused Jewishmoneylender, Shylock, and signs a chilling contract to honour the debt with apound of his own flesh. An ambiguous, complex and controversial comedy,TheMerchant of Veniceexplores prejudice, marriage, money and the truenature of justice in an unforgiving world.

Used and Recommended by the National Theatre

General Editor Stanley Wells
Edited by W. Moelwyn Merchant
Introduction by Peter Holland

About the Author

William Shakespeare was born to John Shakespeare and MaryArden in late April 1564 in Stratford-upon-Avon. He wrote about 38 plays (theprecise number is uncertain), many of which are regarded as the mostexceptional works of drama ever produced, includingRomeo andJuliet(1595),HenryV (1599),Hamlet(1601),Othello(1604),KingLear(1606) andMacbeth(1606), as well as acollection of 154 sonnets, which number among the most profound and influentiallove poetry in English. Shakespeare died in Stratford in 1616.