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.u003cbru003eu003cbru003eEach Edition Includes:u003cbru003e• Comprehensive explanatory notes u003cbru003e• Vivid introductions and the most up-to-date scholarship u003cbru003e• Clear, modernized spelling and punctuation, enabling contemporary readers to understand the Elizabethan Englishu003cbru003e• Completely updated, detailed bibliographies and performance histories u003cbru003e• An interpretive essay on film adaptations of the play, along with an extensive filmography
