The Merchant of Venice: A Broadview Anthology of British Literature Edition - Softcover

Shakespeare, William

Softcover

ISBN 10: 1554812127 ISBN 13: 9781554812127

Publisher: Broadview Press, 2015

Synopsis

The Merchant of Venice is best known for its complex and ambiguous portrait of the Jewish moneylender Shylock―and of European anti-Semitism. Fascinating in its engagement with prejudice, the play is also a comedy of cross-dressing and disguise, and a dramatic exploration of justice, mercy, and vengeance.

This volume contains the full text of the play with explanatory footnotes and marginal glosses for contemporary readers. An extensive introduction and well-rounded selection of background materials not only illuminate anti-Semitism in early modern England but also provide context for other facets of the play, including its comic plot of love and marriage, its examination of commerce and international trade, and its themes of revenge and the law.

About this title

About the Author:

Julie Sutherland is an Instructor at Cape Breton University.

Review:

“... extremely useful. The introductory materials are lucidly written and very thorough. Most impressive, I thought, was the range of background primary sources the editor provides.... The volume strikes me as suitable for courses not only in Shakespeare and early English drama but also those that look at the history of antisemitism and of Jewish-Christian relations in Europe.... The next time I teach Merchant I am definitely going to assign it!” ― Lisa Lampert-Weissig, University of California, San Diego

“Students and their teachers will welcome this excellent new edition of The Merchant of Venice. Julie Sutherland’s introduction to the play sets up the major issues of and conflicts surrounding Shakespeare’s representation of his Jewish character, Shylock. The volume’s carefully chosen and excerpted supporting materials supply lively perspectives on the historical, social, religious, and theatrical contexts of Shakespeare’s enigmatic and always fascinating play.” ― Judith Page, University of Florida

“With a sensitive scholarly introduction, well-chosen illustrations, and extensive annotations, this edition of The Merchant of Venice is accessible enough for secondary school students and challenging enough for undergraduate and even graduate students. The contextual materials on topics from ‘The Shakespearean Theater’ to ‘Jews and Christians’ to ‘Women, Family and Obedience,’ to name but a few, make this edition a superlative resource for teaching and researching one of Shakespeare’s most significant and controversial plays.” ― Bernadette Andrea, University of Texas at San Antonio

“...a classroom-ready Broadview edition ... presented along with a rich collection of source and contextualizing materials ...” ― Studies in English Literature 1500-1900

About this edition

• Publisher: Broadview Press
• Publication date: 2015
• ISBN 10: 1554812127
• ISBN 13: 9781554812127
• Binding: Paperback
• Number of pages: 170
• Editor: Sutherland Julie, Black Joseph, Conolly Leonard, Flint Kate, Grundy Isobel, LePan Don, Liuzza Roy, McGann Jerome J., Lake Prescott Anne, Qualls Barry V., Waters Claire