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Jump to navigationJump to searchThe Merchant Of Venice (Shakespeare Stories) by Andrew Matthews and Tony Ross (view source)
Revision as of 14:27, 9 April 2010
, 14:27, 9 April 2010no edit summary
Bassanio's got the hots for Portia, and she for him. His friend, Antonio, borrows money from Shylock so Bassanio can woo her. Antonio is usually well-off, but all his money is tied up with his ships at the moment. Due to past rivalries, Shylock demands that Antonio pay him back with a pound of flesh if he can't come up with the money. Meanwhile, Portia is putting various suitors to the test. As someone wise once said elsewhere, the course of true love never did run smooth.
This is - as if you can't guess - William Shakespeare's ''The Merchant Of Venice'' retold for younger readers. And bloody jolly good it is too. It's appropriately pared down and plot-heavy. It's made suitable for its audience, rather than dumbed down. Shylock's famous speech, for example, becomes:
''Remember that Jews are just as human as you. If you cut us, we bleed, if you poison us, we die - and if you insult us, we will have our revenge.''
