'The Oxford Shakespeare' series offers authoritative texts from leading scholars in editions designed to interpret and illuminate classic works for modern readers. A detailed introduction considers composition, sources, and critical and theatrical history.

Shakespeare's classic play explores the eternal themes of love and hate, mercy and justice, with parallel stories centred on the moneylender, Shylock, and the lovers, Portia and Bassanio. Shylock's angry insistence on the repayment of his debt from Bassanio ends in the Venetian courts where he demands his pound of flesh. Portia meanwhile, a wealthy young Venetian woman, must marry one of her many suitors. Her late father?s will has set the challenge...

A poor physician's daughter cures the King of France, and in return is promised the hand of any nobleman she wishes. But the man she chooses, the proud young Count of Rossillion, refuses to consummate the forced marriage and flees to Florence.