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 role 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
* Emphasizes 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
