Christopher Marlowe: References & Edit History

An authoritative edition of Christopher Marlowe’s works was edited by Fredson Bowers, The Complete Works of Christopher Marlowe, 2nd ed., 2 vol. (1981).

Biographies include Stephen Greenblatt, Dark Renaissance: The Dangerous Times and Fatal Genius of Shakespeare’s Greatest Rival (2025); Frederick S. Boas, Christopher Marlowe: A Biographical and Critical Study (1940, reprinted 1966); J. Leslie Hotson, The Death of Christopher Marlowe (1925, reprinted 1967); Calvin Hoffman, The Murder of the Man Who Was “Shakespeare” (also published as The Man Who Was Shakespeare, 1955); Philip Henderson, Christopher Marlowe, 2nd ed. (1974); and Gerald Pinciss, Christopher Marlowe (1975, reissued 1984). Charles Nicholl, The Reckoning: The Murder of Christopher Marlowe (1992), postulates a conspiracy resulting in government complicity in Marlowe’s murder.

Works of criticism include Paul H. Kocher, Christopher Marlowe: A Study of His Thought, Learning, and Character (1946, reissued 1974); Harry Levin, The Overreacher: A Study of Christopher Marlowe (1952, reissued 1974); F.P. Wilson, Marlowe and the Early Shakespeare (1953, reissued 1973); J.B. Steane, Marlowe: A Critical Study (1964, reprinted 1974); Clifford Leech, Christopher Marlowe: Poet for the Stage (1986); Roger Sales, Christopher Marlowe (1991); and Douglas Cole, Christopher Marlowe and the Renaissance of Tragedy (1995).

Anthologies of critical essays include Harold Bloom, Christopher Marlowe (2002); Clifford Leech (ed.), Marlowe: A Collection of Critical Essays (1964); Judith O’Neill (comp.), Critics on Marlowe (1969); and Kenneth Friedenreich, Roma Gill, and Constance B. Kuriyama (eds.), “A Poet and a Filthy Play-Maker” (1987).