Dark Renaissance: The Dangerous Times and Fatal Genius of Shakespeare's Greatest Rival by Stephen GreenblattMy rating: 4 of 5 stars
This book is set in the late16th century, a biography of Christopher Marlowe, although the title nor subtitle mentions that. It appears that he was a collaborator with Shakespeare not a rival, or at least that's not how it was presented in this book.
However, the biography of Marlowe, or at least what is known of him, and the details of his plays was fascinating. There is much more detail about Shakespeare’s life than Marlowe’s, but there are remnants that can be pieced together.
Marlowe was a bit of a genius, son of a cobbler in Canterbury he managed to get a scholarship to Cambridge. He stayed on after the initial degree, working on a Master’s for a couple more years of school. During this time he apparently started working as a spy for the government, spent time in France and generally was away from school more than was allowed. He was not to graduate, except a letter appeared from the Queen’s Privy Council that said, give him the degree.
Instead of becoming the anticipated clergyman, as the scholarship he won had expected, Marlowe went to London and wrote more plays (something he had started as a student). Perhaps he was also still working as a spy for the government. This time period was quite dangerous, the Queen with Walsingham’s spy network attempted to root out all Catholics or plots to overthrow her.
The plays Marlowe wrote were subversive, and the writing was in a new style, which helped to transform art of which Shakespeare benefited. Several of Marlowe’s plays were discussed in detail, which I did appreciate as I have no familiarity with them.
Marlowe was killed at age 29 under mysterious circumstances. Those details are described along with what may have happened. As with many other parts of the book many words such as perhaps, or maybe are used.
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