Author Description

"This book offers a unique, easily accessible overview of key dates relevant to Marlowe's life and works. It charts the main events of his education, theatrical career, brushes with the law and apparent involvement in spying, and then continues with an account of the ongoing and indeed increasing importance of his texts after his death, keeping careful track of the points at which various pieces of information have emerged about him. Where events are difficult to date securely, it outlines the various theories and enables readers to navigate their way through the various pieces of evidence for the hotly contested dating of his plays and poems. Since Marlowe's plays often focus on real historical figures, details of their lives are also included to allow readers to see what choices and, occasionally, liberties Marlowe has taken in his dramatisation of their lives."--BOOK JACKET.