The Cambridge Companion to Christopher Marlowe

Sixteen leading scholars provide authoritative chapters on relevant topics of Marlowe's life and works in this complete introduction to the famed pioneer of both the Elizabethan stage and modern English poetry. The essays cover his texts and style, use of classicism, and representations of sexuality and gender, as well as of geography and identity. The volume also considers the religious, political, courtly, and literary contexts of Marlowe's authorship, his presence in modern film and theater, and his influence on subsequent writers.

The Cambridge Companion to Christopher Marlowe, first published in 2004, provides a full introduction to one of the great pioneers of both the Elizabethan stage and modern English poetry. It recalls that Marlowe was an inventor of the English history play (Edward II) and of Ovidian narrative verse (Hero and Leander), as well as being author of such masterpieces of tragedy and lyric as Doctor Faustus and 'The Passionate Shepherd to his Love'. Sixteen leading scholars provide accessible and authoritative chapters on Marlowe's life, texts, style, politics, religion, and classicism. The volume also considers his literary and patronage relationships and his representations of sexuality and gender and of geography and identity; his presence in modern film and theatre; and finally his influence on subsequent writers. The Companion includes a chronology of Marlowe's life, a note on reference works, and a reading list for each chapter.

1. Introduction: Marlowe in the twenty-first century Patrick Cheney; 2. Marlowe's life David Riggs; 3. Marlovian texts and authorship Laurie Maguire; 4. Marlowe and style Russ McDonald; 5. Marlowe and the politics of religion Paul Whitfield White; 6. Marlowe and the English literary scene James P. Bednarz; 7. Marlowe's poems and classicism Georgia Brown; 8. Tamburlaine the Great, Parts One and Two Mark Thornton Burnett; 9. The Jew of Malta Julia Reinhard Lupton; 10. Edward II Thomas Cartelli; 11. Doctor Faustus Thomas Healy; 12. Dido, Queen of Carthage and The Massacre at Paris Sara Munson Deats; 13. Tragedy, patronage, and power Richard Wilson; 14. Geography and identity in Marlowe Garrett A. Sullivan, Jr.; 15. Marlowe's men and women: gender and sexuality Kate Chedgzoy; 16. Marlowe in theatre and film Lois Potter; 17. Marlowe's reception and influence Lisa Hopkins.

This 2004 Companion provides a full introduction to the famed pioneer of both the Elizabethan stage and modern English poetry, Christopher Marlowe. Sixteen leading scholars provide accessible and authoritative chapters and the volume includes a chronology of Marlowe's life, a note on reference works, and a reading list for each chapter.

Patrick Cheney is Professor of English and Comparative Literature at Pennsylvania State University. He is the author of Marlowe's Counterfeit Profession: Ovid, Spenser, Counter-Nationhood (1997) and Spenser's Famous Flight: A Renaissance Idea of a Literary Career (1993).