Product Description

If Shakespeare had died at the age Marlowe died, there would have been no question that Marlowe was the leading figure in English Renaissance drama. This edition of all his plays shows why. The plays give us a clear picture of Marlowe as a radical theatrical poet of great linguistic and dramatic daring, whose characters constantly strive to break out of the social, religious and rhetorical bonds within which they are confined. Accused during his lifetime of blasphemy and homosexuality, Marlowe still has the power to challenge our assumptions about conventional morality, through his innovative theatricality. By placing less-known plays such as The Massacre at Paris and Dido Queen of Carthage alongside the acknowledged masterpieces Edward II and Dr Faustus, this edition gives a full picture of Marlowe's distinctive and provocative talent.

Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #669042 in Books
• Published on: 2000-04-01
• Original language: English
• Binding: Paperback
• 560 pages

Customer Reviews

Very Useful
This is a good book for everyone who needs all the texts of Marlowe's plays. Emma Smith, the editor, writes specific introductions for each play. These are useful for setting the context of each play. However like many modern scholars she has the tendency to make bold unconventional points, so newcomers to Marlowe shouldn't believe everything she says about the plays automatically. The plays themselves need no intoduction. "Tamberlaine", "Dr.Faustus" and "Edward II" are as good if not better than any Shakespearean play. Their emphases however are different. Whilst Shakespeare often concentrated on the psychological aspects of characters, Marlowe prefers strong storylines which nevertheless often have an un-settling ambuiguity about them when read the second time, eg "The Massacre at Paris". If you don't have any Marlowe texts yet, get this book!