The Merchant of Venice Audiobook By William Shakespeare cover art

The Merchant of Venice

Arkangel Shakespeare

 Preview

Get 30 days of Standard free

Auto-renews at $8.99/mo after 30-day trial. Cancel anytime
Try for $0.00
More purchase options
Buy for $12.50

Buy for $12.50

In Shakespeare's most controversial play, the opposing values of justice and mercy must be resolved. Antonio promises money to help his friend Bassanio woo Portia. He borrows the sum needed from the cruel Shylock, but there will be a dreadful penalty if the loan is not repaid.

The golden world of Portia's Belmont calls forth some of Shakespeare's most lyrical love poetry. But the dark shadow of Shylock is never far from the heart of this brilliant comedy as it moves toward its courtroom climax.

Portia is played by Hadyn Gwynne and Shylock by Trevor Peacock. Julian Rhind-Tutt is Bassanio, and Bill Nighy is Antonio.

Public Domain (P)2014 Blackstone Audio Drama & Plays Classics Shakespeare World Literature European Theater Funny Entertainment & Performing Arts Entertainment Radio Inspiring

Featured Article: All the World's a Stage—The Best Shakespeare Plays in Audio


If there’s one writer whose work translates spectacularly to audio format, it’s the Bard. Hearing Shakespeare’s dialog masterfully performed by professionals with the correct emphasis and tone can make all the difference in catching every clever joke and innuendo, picking up on subtle foreshadowing, and sometimes even understanding the plot itself. Here are our choices for the best Shakespeare audiobooks to add to your library today.

Featured Article All the World's a Stage The Best Shakespeare Plays in Audio
All stars
Most relevant
This is one of my favorite Shakespeare plays and, overall, the ensemble reads the play very well; I especially liked Trevor Peacock as Shylock. I did find Launcelot's narration a bit over the top, but hearing the play is the next best thing to seeing it performed. The Merchant Of Venice is not performed as much as it used to be because of its supposedly anti-Semitic plot. However, Shakespeare gives Shylock one of the most dramatic and telling speeches in the play "...If You prick us, do we not bleed?...etc. As with many of his plays, Shakespeare's words and actions have deeper meanings. A play to hear (and see) many times.

One Of Shakespeare's Best

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.
...brilliantly produced. It always makes me laugh that the court scenes are totally afoul of due process and legally illegitimate. The problem of Shakespeare's anti-Semitism is most evident.

A brilliant play...

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.
Good source edition of the play as well: exceptional in every aspect. Thoroughly enjoyable! I hope more Shakespearean productions of this quality will be produced. Haydn Gwynne and Trevor Peacock were fantastic, and Bill Nighy was a delight as usual. An awesome cast and great music, too.

Outstanding performance! Listened twice in a row.

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.
Bill Nighy as Antonio and David Tennant as the clown? Uh, yes. Definitely, thank you.

That cast, wow

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.
The skill of the narrators and the inclusion of background noise carry you along as if you’re watching an actual play.

Immersive, engaging

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.
See more reviews