The Merchant of Venice

by Clare West (Retold by), William Shakespeare

In sixteenth-century Venice - a city of wealthy merchants and bankers - money is all-important. Bassanio is penniless, but his great friend Antonio offers to help him by borrowing the money that he needs. To do this, though, Antonio must make an arrangement with an old enemy that puts his life in danger... The Merchant of Venice is one of Shakespeare's most popular plays, and it has been performed all over the world. It is retold in this Bookworm not as a play, but as a story.

Paperback with Audio

Published February 25, 2016

About the author

Clare West has over twenty years of TEFL classroom experience in the UK and abroad, and has led teacher workshops in Europe and South America. Associated with Cambridge examination courses, she became a freelance author, contributing to Oxford Bookworms and Dominoes and serving as Series Editor for Oxford Bookworms Playscripts.

Reviews

[AMEER · Rating 4 out of 5]

The Merchant of Venice Summary. Antonio, an antisemitic merchant, takes a loan from the Jew Shylock to help his friend to court Portia. Antonio can't repay the loan, and without mercy, Shylock demands a pound of his flesh. The heiress Portia, now the wife of Antonio's friend, dresses as a lawyer and saves Antonio.

The main themes are justice, mercy, revenge, love, and friendship, and though much of the subject matter is rather dark, it is regarded as one of Shakespeare’s comedy plays.

[cris · Rating 3 out of 5]

I had to read this for school and not going to lie it was pretty boring. I would have much rather read the original. It wasn’t too bad but the plot seemed superficial and not really that deep, like there was no real meaning?

[natt :) · Rating 3 out of 5]

Antonio y Bassano¿ fucked

[L'ou · Rating 2 out of 5]

Meh.

[Maria · Rating 3 out of 5]

3⭐

[Mica · Rating 4 out of 5]

Portia I'm so sorry you won't have a legally blonde era due to sexism in your century, I love you

[A. Ruiz · Rating 4 out of 5]

3.5

Gran libro, muy divertido. No era para nada lo que esperaba. Me hace querer ver o leer la obra original de Shakespeare.