I’m intrigued by an e-mail I’ve just received from Brendan King in which he updates me on his research into the Shylock legend. Here are some of his bizarre and surprising discoveries:
 
During my research into the Shylock legend, I have found numerous versions where the moneylender is definitely not Jewish.

In an Irish language version from the Aran Islands, “Shylock” is a Leprechaun. In a Scottish Gaelic version from the Outer Hebrides, he is implied to be a Northman. Most intriguing is a Jewish folktale from Morocco. In this version, the debtor is a Jew and “Shylock” is a Muslim.

In every version mentioned, “Portia” saves “Antonio/Bassanio” with the same prohibition against shedding blood.

This seems to confirm Chesterton’s belief that the legend is a “medieval satire on usury” rather than a simple anti-Semitic slur.