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The Merchant of Venice
The Arkangel Shakespeare Collection (Related to this series)
- Author
- William Shakespeare
- Narrator
- various
- Publisher
- Arkangel
- Publish Date
- 20 March 2005
- Run Time
- 2 hours 17 minutes
- Format
- Audiobook
What to expect
In Shakespeare’s most controversial play, the opposing values of justice and mercy must be resolved. Antonio promises money to help his friend Bassanio woo Portia. He borrows the sum needed from the cruel Shylock, but there will be a dreadful penalty if the loan is not repaid.
The golden world of Portia’s Belmont calls forth some of Shakespeare’s most lyrical love poetry. But the dark shadow of Shylock is never far from the heart of this brilliant comedy as it moves toward its courtroom climax.
Portia is played by Hadyn Gwynne and Shylock by Trevor Peacock. Julian Rhind-Tutt is Bassanio, and Bill Nighy is Antonio.
Critics Review
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“Transforming any play into sound alone is a challenge, and one that is met by this Arkangel production…All the actors give strong performances…Trevor Peacock’s portrayal of Shylock stands out among those of a solid cast. Peacock uses a sly voice for Shylock, saving his best for the comedy’s climactic courtroom scene.”
AudioFile
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“A masterpiece of dramatic skill…The legal acuteness, the passionate declamations, the sound maxims of jurisprudence, the wit and irony interspersed in it, the fluctuations of hope and fear in the different persons, and the completeness and suddenness of the catastrophe, cannot be surpassed.”
William Hazlett, Shakespearean critic, on the courtroom scene in Act IV
User Reviews
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Details
- Author
- William Shakespeare
- Narrator
- various
- Duration
- 2 hours 17 minutes
- Release Date
- 20 March 2005
- ISBN
- 9781572708938
- Format
- Audiobook
- Publisher
- Arkangel
- Genre
- Classic and pre-20th century plays, Historical romance
Synopsis
In Shakespeare’s most controversial play, the opposing values of justice and mercy must be resolved. Antonio promises money to help his friend Bassanio woo Portia. He borrows the sum needed from the cruel Shylock, but there will be a dreadful penalty if the loan is not repaid.The golden world of Portia’s Belmont calls forth some of Shakespeare’s most lyrical love poetry. But the dark shadow of Shylock is never far from the heart of this brilliant comedy as it moves toward its courtroom climax.Portia is played by Hadyn Gwynne and Shylock by Trevor Peacock. Julian Rhind-Tutt is Bassanio, and Bill Nighy is Antonio.
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