Shylock's Ghost

Overview

As Man Booker Prize-winning writer Howard Jacobson retells The Merchant of Venice, 400 years after Shakespeare’s death, he travels with Alan Yentob to the ghetto in Venice to explore Shakespeare's most performed play - and in particular the character of the most divisive fictional Jew in history, Shylock. On their journey, Howard and Alan examine the evidence behind the charge of antisemitism against Shakespeare. How did his old Jew from Venice become such a useful propaganda tool during the Third Reich, and what was behind the absurd and infamous proposal to cut off a 'pound of flesh'?

Details

Status

Released

Release date

October 27, 2015

Original language

English

Spoken languages

English

Countries

United Kingdom

Production

BBC

Cast

Anthony Julius,Stephen Greenblatt,Howard Jacobson,Alan Yentob,Jonathan Pryce,Reg E. Cathey,Antony Sher

Director

Colette Camden

Budget

Not recorded

Revenue

Not recorded

IMDb

tt5224952