Christopher Marlowe

Christopher Marlowe Biography

Christopher Marlowe (1564-1593) was an English playwright, poet, and translator who was one of the most important figures in the English Renaissance. He was born in Canterbury, England, and was the son of a shoemaker.

Marlowe was educated at the King's School in Canterbury and then went on to study at Cambridge University, where he received a bachelor's degree in 1584 and a master's degree in 1587. While at university, he wrote his first play, "Dido, Queen of Carthage," which was performed by the Children of the Chapel, a company of child actors.

Marlowe's most famous plays include "Tamburlaine the Great," "Doctor Faustus," and "The Jew of Malta," which were all written in the 1580s. These plays were noted for their powerful language, bold themes, and innovative use of blank verse.

In addition to his plays, Marlowe was also a prolific poet and translator. His translations of Ovid's "Amores" and "Ars Amatoria" were widely read and helped to establish his reputation as a scholar.

Despite his success, Marlowe's life was marked by controversy. He was accused of atheism, blasphemy, and homosexuality, and was arrested on several occasions. In 1593, he was fatally stabbed in a dispute over a bill at a tavern in Deptford, London, at the age of 29.

Despite his short life and career, Marlowe's work had a significant impact on the development of English drama and literature. His plays influenced later playwrights such as William Shakespeare, and his use of blank verse helped to establish it as a popular form of poetry and drama.

6 Christopher Marlowe books available to download for free for iPhone, iPad, Nook, Android, and Kindle in PDF and all popular eBook reader formats (AZW3, EPUB, MOBI).