{"product_id":"the-merchant-of-venice","title":"The Merchant of Venice","description":"\u003ch4 class=\"ds-markdown-paragraph\"\u003e\u003cem\u003eA pound of flesh. A stolen daughter. A ring. And the most famous courtroom speech in English literature.\u003c\/em\u003e\u003c\/h4\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"ds-markdown-paragraph\"\u003e\u003cspan\u003eShakespeare's \"problem comedy\" is his most controversial play—a work that asks whether justice and mercy can ever truly meet, and leaves the audience arguing about the answer.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"ds-markdown-paragraph\"\u003e\u003cspan\u003eBassanio, a young Venetian nobleman, needs money to court the wealthy heiress Portia. He turns to his friend Antonio, the merchant of Venice, who borrows from Shylock, a Jewish moneylender whom Antonio has publicly insulted. Shylock, weary of Christian hypocrisy, demands an unusual bond: if Antonio cannot repay the loan, Shylock may take a pound of his flesh. When Antonio's ships are lost at sea, the bond comes due. In the courtroom, Portia—disguised as a young male lawyer—argues for mercy. But Shylock demands justice. And the play's resolution, with its forced conversion and its uneasy laughter, has haunted readers for four centuries.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"ds-markdown-paragraph\"\u003e\u003cspan\u003eThis is Shakespeare at his most ambiguous and provocative: a play about anti-Semitism, revenge, mercy, and the limits of the law. \u003c\/span\u003e\u003cem\u003e\u003cspan\u003eThe Merchant of Venice\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/em\u003e\u003cspan\u003e cannot be easily loved or dismissed—and that is exactly why it endures.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cul\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"ds-markdown-paragraph\"\u003e\u003cspan\u003eOne of Shakespeare's most frequently performed and debated plays\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"ds-markdown-paragraph\"\u003e\u003cspan\u003eFeatures Shylock, one of literature's most complex and tragic villains—or victims\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"ds-markdown-paragraph\"\u003e\u003cspan\u003eExplores themes of justice, mercy, prejudice, and the conflict between law and love\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003c\/ul\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"ds-markdown-paragraph\"\u003e\u003cstrong\u003e\u003cspan\u003eAvailable in multiple formats:\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cul\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"ds-markdown-paragraph\"\u003e\u003cstrong\u003e\u003cspan\u003ePaperback \u0026amp; Hardcover:\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003cspan\u003e Beautifully designed print editions presenting the complete, unabridged text made to last.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"ds-markdown-paragraph\"\u003e\u003cstrong\u003e\u003cspan\u003eEbook:\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003cspan\u003e DRM-free EPUB compatible with Kindle, Kobo, Apple Books, and all major e-readers.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"ds-markdown-paragraph\"\u003e\u003cstrong\u003e\u003cspan\u003eAudiobook:\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003cspan\u003e Professionally narrated, complete and unabridged, available on all major audiobook platforms.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003c\/ul\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"ds-markdown-paragraph\"\u003e\u003cspan\u003eA beautifully crafted edition for your shelf, your device, or your ears—or the perfect gift for anyone who knows that mercy is not strained, but it is rarely easy.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch4 class=\"ds-markdown-paragraph\"\u003e\u003cstrong\u003e\u003cspan\u003eAbout the Author\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/h4\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"ds-markdown-paragraph\"\u003e\u003cstrong\u003e\u003cspan\u003eWilliam Shakespeare\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003cspan\u003e (1564–1616) was an English playwright, poet, and actor, widely regarded as the greatest writer in the English language. Born in Stratford-upon-Avon, he moved to London and became a shareholder in the Lord Chamberlain's Men (later the King's Men). \u003c\/span\u003e\u003cem\u003e\u003cspan\u003eThe Merchant of Venice\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/em\u003e\u003cspan\u003e was written between 1596 and 1599. The play has a complex performance history: while it was popular in Shakespeare's lifetime, its portrayal of Shylock has become increasingly controversial. The character has been played as both a villain and a tragic victim, with the famous \"Hath not a Jew eyes?\" speech giving voice to centuries of persecution. Shakespeare's other major works include \u003c\/span\u003e\u003cem\u003e\u003cspan\u003eHamlet\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/em\u003e\u003cspan\u003e, \u003c\/span\u003e\u003cem\u003e\u003cspan\u003eRomeo and Juliet\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/em\u003e\u003cspan\u003e, \u003c\/span\u003e\u003cem\u003e\u003cspan\u003eKing Lear\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/em\u003e\u003cspan\u003e, \u003c\/span\u003e\u003cem\u003e\u003cspan\u003eOthello\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/em\u003e\u003cspan\u003e, \u003c\/span\u003e\u003cem\u003e\u003cspan\u003eMacbeth\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/em\u003e\u003cspan\u003e, and \u003c\/span\u003e\u003cem\u003e\u003cspan\u003eThe Tempest\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/em\u003e\u003cspan\u003e. He died in 1616 at the age of 52 and is buried in Holy Trinity Church in Stratford-upon-Avon.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"Casa Carlini","offers":[{"title":"Audiobook","offer_id":54423173005684,"sku":null,"price":13.99,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":false},{"title":"Ebook","offer_id":54423173038452,"sku":null,"price":9.99,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true},{"title":"Paperback","offer_id":54423173071220,"sku":"9612921002257","price":17.99,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true},{"title":"Hardcover","offer_id":54423173103988,"sku":"9612921003568","price":21.99,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0988\/5561\/6884\/files\/casa-carlini-simple-audiobook-the-merchant-of-venice-53566707040628.png?v=1779965554","url":"https:\/\/casacarlini.com\/products\/the-merchant-of-venice","provider":"Casa Carlini","version":"1.0","type":"link"}