Shylock Is My Name

Howard Jacobson's retelling of Shakespeare's The Merchant of Venice transports the story to modern-day Manchester, England. Two men - a wealthy art collector named Simon Strulovitch and the mysterious Shylock himself - meet in a cemetery and form an unlikely connection. The parallel narratives follow Strulovitch's conflicts with his teenage daughter and a local celebrity who pursues her, while Shylock's presence raises questions about Jewish identity, revenge, and justice. The story maintains core elements of Shakespeare's play while placing them in a contemporary context of social media, reality TV, and modern antisemitism. The prose alternates between sharp comedy and serious examinations of father-daughter relationships, religious heritage, and prejudice. Jacobson integrates direct references to the original play while crafting an independent narrative that stands on its own. This contemporary adaptation explores timeless themes of mercy versus justice and the price of assimilation, while questioning how much has truly changed in four centuries of Jewish-Christian relations. The novel challenges readers to confront their own biases and assumptions about identity and belonging.

Readers note the clever modern retelling of The Merchant of Venice, with many appreciating how Jacobson explores antisemitism and Jewish identity in contemporary society. The parallel storylines between the original play and modern characters resonate with Shakespeare fans. Liked: - Sharp, witty dialogue - Complex examination of father-daughter relationships - Deep exploration of Jewish themes and culture - Intellectual humor Disliked: - Dense, challenging prose that can be hard to follow - Plot moves slowly, especially in middle sections - Some found it pretentious and overly cerebral - Several readers struggled to connect with the characters Ratings: Goodreads: 3.4/5 (1,200+ ratings) Amazon: 3.7/5 (80+ ratings) Notable reader comment: "Jacobson brilliantly updates Shakespeare's themes but demands too much from casual readers" - Goodreads reviewer The book appeals most to readers familiar with The Merchant of Venice and those interested in literary fiction focused on Jewish identity.

The Plot Against America by Philip Roth This alternate history reimagines 1940s America through a Jewish lens while examining antisemitism and cultural identity.

Operation Shylock by Philip Roth A writer named Philip Roth confronts an imposter using his identity to promote a controversial ideology about Jewish people and Israel.

The Merchant of Venice by John Gross This cultural history traces the impact and interpretations of Shakespeare's Shylock through centuries of performance and criticism.

The Bad-Ass Librarians of Timbuktu by Joshua Hammer The true story of librarians who saved ancient Jewish texts from destruction draws parallels between historical preservation and cultural identity.

Hope: A Tragedy by Shalom Auslander A Jewish man discovers Anne Frank living in his attic, leading to an exploration of guilt, memory, and Jewish identity in modern times.

🎭 "Shylock Is My Name" is part of the Hogarth Shakespeare series, which reimagines Shakespeare's works in contemporary settings by acclaimed modern authors. 📚 Howard Jacobson won the prestigious Man Booker Prize in 2010 for "The Finkler Question," making him well-suited to tackle this modern retelling of "The Merchant of Venice." 💰 The novel parallels Shakespeare's Shylock with a modern Jewish art dealer named Simon Strulovitch, exploring timeless themes of antisemitism, family, and revenge in contemporary Manchester. 🎨 Jacobson uniquely brings the original Shylock into the story as a character who interacts with Strulovitch, creating a meta-literary dialogue between past and present. ✡️ The author has described himself as "the Jewish Jane Austen," known for combining comedy with serious explorations of Jewish identity in contemporary society.