The Merchant of Venice

Set in sixteenth-century Venice, the story follows Antonio, a merchant who borrows money from Shylock, a Jewish moneylender, to help his friend Bassanio woo the heiress Portia. When Antonio's ships are lost at sea, he faces a trial that raises themes of intolerance and justice. This edition includes a newly commissioned biography of Shakespeare, highlighting his significance as one of the greatest writers in the English language and a celebrated dramatist.