"Le marchand de Venise" by William Shakespeare is a play written between 1596 and 1598. When a Venetian merchant defaults on a loan from Jewish moneylender Shylock, the penalty demanded is a pound of flesh. Though classified as a comedy, the play is best remembered for its dramatic intensity and Shylock's character. It features famous speeches on humanity and mercy, while sparking ongoing debate about antisemitism through its portrayal of legal rights versus human dignity. (This is an automatically generated summary.)
These books are free to read. Each is in the public domain in the United States; check your own country's rules before you copy or share one.
