In Shakespeare's The Merchant of Venice, merchant Antonio borrows from the Jewish moneylender Shylock, to help fund his friend Bassanio's wooing of the beautiful, prized Portia. Antonio, who makes no attempt to hide his loathing of Shylock, usury and everything Jewish, must promise in return a bond of a pound of his own flesh should he not be able to repay the debt. When Antonio's ships are lost at sea, it becomes clear he won't be able to service his debt. The case is heard at court; Antonio must honour his promise. Until an unknown lawyer arrives, talking of mercy, and picks the case apart. Howard Jacobson takes Shakespeare's great tale of vengeance and cruelty and propels it through space and time to the shiny modern world.