How long does it take to read The Merchant of Venice?
The Merchant of Venice by William Shakespeare takes about 2 hours 42 minutes to read at 250 words a minute.
About 2 hours 42 minutes
An evening's read
First published 1600. 147 pages, about 40,425 words. Written for children.
6 days at 30 minutes a day
Estimate based on 275 words per page.
At other speeds
| Slow, 150 words a minute | 4 hours 30 minutes |
| Average, 250 words a minute | 2 hours 42 minutes |
| Fast, 400 words a minute | 1 hour 41 minutes |
The page count is the median across 818 editions, so your copy may differ. How we calculate.
About the book
In this lively comedy of love and money in sixteenth-century Venice, Bassanio wants to impress the wealthy heiress Portia but lacks the necessary funds. He turns to his merchant friend, Antonio, who is forced to borrow from Shylock, a Jewish moneylender. When Antonio's business falters, repayment becomes impossible--and by the terms of the loan agreement, Shylock is able to demand a pound of Antonio's flesh. Portia cleverly intervenes, and all ends well (except of course for Shylock).
Subjects: Drama, Jews, Moneylenders, Shylock (Fictitious character), Juvenile drama, Plays
