This book offers a lively introduction to all of the plays of Christopher Marlowe and to the central concerns of his age, many of which are still important to us - religious uncertainty, the clash between Islam and Christianity, ideas of sexuality, and the rΓ΄le of the marginalised inidividual in society.
Each chapter focuses on a specific aspect of Marlowe's work and its cultural contexts: Marlowe's life and death; the Marlowe canon; the theatrical contexts and stage history of the plays; Marlowe's interest in old and new branches of knowledge; the ways in which he transgresses against established norms and values; and the major issues which have been raised in critical discussions of his plays.
Key Features
- Covers all of Marlowe's plays, including Tamburlaine the Great, Doctor Faustus, Edward II and The Jew of Malta
- Emphasises how daring Marlowe's ideas were at the time as well as their relevance to readers today
- Covers the theatrical contexts of Marlowe's plays and their performance history
- Reassesses Marlowe's achievement as well as his relationship to Shakespeare
