A fresh look at the mysterious life and death of Christopher Marlowe

In “Dark Renaissance,” Stephen Greenblatt draws on his knowledge of the 16th century to provide context for the playwright’s reckless, taboo-smashing life.

Stephen Greenblatt has the rare ability to write vivid narratives for the general public that rest on firm scholarly foundations. This gift is particularly valuable in his new book, “Dark Renaissance,” because there is scant documentary evidence about Christopher Marlowe, the groundbreaking Elizabethan playwright who paved the way for William Shakespeare. In lieu of a straightforward biography, Greenblatt crafts a brilliant re-creation of the world Marlowe inhabited.

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