Suspend your disbelief and it is abundantly clear that Marlowe had the natural wit, life experiences, and education to create the settings and the characters who populate Shakespeare's plays. There is proof of Marlowe in the written records where almost nothing exists to prove Shakespeare's legitimacy as author. Even his will mentions no writings or books, surprising given his alleged prolific output. Do not let your personal perception of the facts of Marlowe's life get in the way of accepting and enjoying this brilliantly told "biography."
If Shakespeare were so great and well-known a poet and dramatist, why is there no record of a eulogy for Queen Elizabeth, or a coronation ode for King James? This is easily explained according to Bolt. Marlowe was still exiled in Italy and his couriers for carrying his plays back to England had dried up in 1603.
If Shakespeare were so great and well-known a poet and dramatist, why is there no record of a eulogy for Queen Elizabeth, or a coronation ode for King James? This is easily explained according to Bolt. Marlowe was still exiled in Italy and his couriers for carrying his plays back to England had dried up in 1603.
Marlowe returned briefly to England in 1609. More of his sonnets - still under Shakespeare's name - were published by Thomas Thorpe who dedicated them as follows: "To the onlie begetter of these insuing sonnets Mr. W.H…." One of Marlowe's pseudonyms during his 16 years abroad was "Walter Hoochspier," which just happens to be an exact anagram for Christopher Marlowe. What better proof could exist in a time of ciphers and on behalf of a long-time spy that Marlow write the sonnets and plays ascribed to Shakespeare?
Marlowe's return to England was merely preparation for his departure for the New World. His ship, the Sea Venture, crashed with no lives lost and gave rise to his final play, "The Tempest." Then, in 1616, Shakespeare and Cervantes died on the same April day. On a small island near Bermuda Marlowe picked up a quill pen and began his first novel, and there the story ends.
Marlowe's return to England was merely preparation for his departure for the New World. His ship, the Sea Venture, crashed with no lives lost and gave rise to his final play, "The Tempest." Then, in 1616, Shakespeare and Cervantes died on the same April day. On a small island near Bermuda Marlowe picked up a quill pen and began his first novel, and there the story ends.
History Play should be required reading for those who teach courses on Shakespeare or British literature. High school teachers, too many of whom have to teach from outdated, poorly researched textbooks, must read Bolt's brilliant evocation of the Elizabethan period. No wonder it received rave reviews when it was published in England in 2004.
