{"product_id":"a-guide-to-the-merchant-alistair-mccallum-9781899747139","title":"A Guide to The Merchant of Venice","description":"The \u003ci\u003eShakespeare Handbooks\u003c\/i\u003e provide a helpful, straightforward guide to the work of the world's most celebrated dramatist. \u003cp\u003e\u003c\/p\u003eAlong with a clear, easy-to-follow description of the plot, each book contains plenty of quotations from the text - with simple explanations of any unfamiliar words and phrases - and some thought-provoking comments from critics, past and present. \u003cp\u003e\u003c\/p\u003eThe \u003ci\u003eShakespeare Handbooks\u003c\/i\u003e include a few intriguing Shakespearean facts and figures, too. How old was Shakespeare when he wrote \u003ci\u003eThe Merchant of Venice\u003c\/i\u003e? What was his reputation like at the time? What influenced him in creating the character of the moneylender Shylock? How did the Elizabethans feel about the subject of moneylending - and how did the issue affect Shakespeare personally? Money apart, which topic is mentioned more frequently in \u003ci\u003eThe Merchant of Venice\u003c\/i\u003e than in any other play by Shakespeare? Why was Laurence Olivier's performance as Shylock particularly memorable? What is a 'fawning publican'? And why does a light wife make a heavy husband? \u003cp\u003e\u003c\/p\u003eIf you're apprehensive about approaching a Shakespeare play, the \u003ci\u003eShakespeare Handbooks\u003c\/i\u003e provide the perfect introduction. They're ideal for students, theatregoers - in fact, anyone curious to know more about the greatest plays in the English language. \u003cp\u003e\u003c\/p\u003eThese are a few of the appreciative comments we've received about the \u003ci\u003eShakespeare Handbooks\u003c\/i\u003e: \u003cbr\u003e\"Tremendously useful in helping to understand Shakespeare's works\" - Dame Judi Dench.\u003cbr\u003e\"Very readable, very helpful\" - Kenneth Branagh.\"\u003cbr\u003eThe \u003ci\u003eShakespeare Handbooks\u003c\/i\u003e open the plays up admirably. Excellent for all levels of reader - everybody will get something from them.\" - Simon Callow.\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003eAuthor:\u003c\/b\u003e Alistair McCallum\u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003eISBN-10:\u003c\/b\u003e 1899747133\u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003eISBN-13:\u003c\/b\u003e 9781899747139\u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003ePublisher:\u003c\/b\u003e Upstart Crow Publications\u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003eLanguage:\u003c\/b\u003e English\u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003ePublished:\u003c\/b\u003e 11\/02\/2018\u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003ePages:\u003c\/b\u003e 92\u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003eFormat:\u003c\/b\u003e Paperback\u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003eWeight:\u003c\/b\u003e 0.26lbs\u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003eSize:\u003c\/b\u003e 8.50h x 5.50w x 0.19d","brand":"Alistair McCallum","offers":[{"title":"Paperback","offer_id":43939101147391,"sku":"9781899747139","price":7.5,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0662\/2982\/9887\/products\/img_661f35f6-4e07-4847-8658-0eb7a76acb6f.jpg?v=1681439503","url":"https:\/\/www.whiterainbookhouse.com\/products\/a-guide-to-the-merchant-alistair-mccallum-9781899747139","provider":"WR Book House","version":"1.0","type":"link"}