The Shakespeare Conference: SHK 11.0362  Monday, 21 February 2000.

From:           Evelyn Gajowski <This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.>
Date:           Friday, 18 Feb 2000 12:17:09 -0800 (PST)
Subject: 11.0342 Pound of Flesh
Comment:        Re: SHK 11.0342 Pound of Flesh

Hi, Lisa.

I suggest checking out James Shapiro's book, *Shakespeare and the Jews*.
In the meantime, Anne Barton begins her intro to the play in *The
Riverside Shakespeare* with just this issue:

        The story of the savage creditor who tried but fails to obtain a
        pound of human flesh as payment of a debt came originally
from          the East.  It was widespread in Europe by the early Middle
Ages.
        Shakespeare's immediate source for Shylock's bond was
probably          the first story of the fourth day in Ser Giovanni's
prose               collection *Il Pecorone*, written at the end of the
14C and             printed in Milan in 1558.

Hope this is if some help.

Best wishes,
Lynn

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