In The Merchant of Venice Shakespeare gives us only a brief and limited view of Shylock, an enigmatic character who varies with each actor's interpretation.
Now, Bertram Fields gives us Shylock's full story, his dangerous background, his life, loves and challenges as an educated Jew in 16th Century Venice, the motivation for demanding his seemingly bizarre bond, as well as what occurred after his fateful confrontation with Portia and the Doge.
