British author Harry Freedman explores the rich history of Venice's Jewish ghetto in his book 'Shylock's Venice: The Remarkable History of Venice's Jews and the Ghetto.' The book delves into the lives of real-life inhabitants of the ghetto over the centuries, shedding light on their interactions with the Christian population and the unique opportunities they had for intellectual and cultural exchange. Freedman also examines the portrayal of Jews in Shakespeare's 'The Merchant of Venice' and speculates on the influence of the Bard's alleged Jewish girlfriend on his sympathetic portrayal of the character Shylock. The book highlights the tragic fate of Venetian Jews during World War II and the Holocaust, but also celebrates the revival of the ghetto as a vibrant and thriving part of the city today.