SHYLOCK IS MY NAME  - HOWARD JACOBSON

 

 

JACOBSON REIMAGINES THE MERCHANT OF VENICE. I HAVE A LOT OF TIME FOR JACOBSON, WHOSE IMAGINATION ENABLES STORIES THAT CAPTIVATE AND DELIGHT. IN THIS STORY I LEARNED THINGS ABOUT JEWS, SHAKESPEARE AND THE MERCHANT. I STILL BELIEVE SHAKESPEARE WAS A PLOT DEVISED IN THE 17TH CENTURY BY A TROUPE OF ITINERANT JESTERS TO PERSUADE KNOBS THAT THEY WERE IMPORTANT AND/OR INTELLIGENT SIMPLY BECAUSE THEY HAD READ HIM. OR SEEN HIS PLAYS OR INDEED A MOVIE OR TWO. WHERE WOULD KENNETH BRANAGH BE WITHOUT SHAKEPEARE? STILL TEACHING AT HOGWARTS PROBABLY. I'M NOT SURE IF CLASSIC COMICS EVER DID SHAKESPEARE. THEY PROBABLY COULDN'T LOWER THEMSELVES.

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