One of the great playwrights of his age, second only to Shakespeare, Christopher Marlowe was also a secret agent as well as the central figure in a murder mystery. Now, Park Honan offers the most thoroughly researched and detailed biography of Marlowe to appear in over fifty years. Honan, the acclaimed biographer of Shakespeare, takes us from Marlowe's childhood in Canterbury to his mysterious death in Deptford, shedding much light on this shadowy individual. The book features new information on Marlowe's six-and-a-half years at Cambridge, his shocking blasphemy and his street fights, his methods of preparing himself for writing, and his alleged atheism. The book includes new facts about Marlowe's adventures on the continent, where he was caught with a counterfeit coin, a hanging offense, but talked his way out of the noose and was returned to England in irons. In addition, there is a more exact account of the circumstances that led to his murder, and a fresh description of his evolving relationship with Shakespeare. Researched in archives in England, Europe, and the United States, this superb biography paints an unforgettable portrait of one of the most remarkable figures in English literature. "No stone is left unturned.... Mr. Honan offers an almost hour-by-hour account of Marlowe's final day, an intriguing theory about the killer's motives and an inquiry into the fatal wound worthy of 'CSI.'" --William Grimes, New York Times "A sumptuously detailed picture of Marlowe's world.... The rich, complex vision of Elizabethan life that 'Christopher Marlowe' supplies can make his poetic gift for cutting to the passionate core of that life seem even more astonishing." --Michael Feingold, The New York Times Book Review `Review from previous edition ...the rich, complex vision of Elizabethan life that "Christopher Marlowe" supplies can make his(Marlowe's) poetic gift for cutting to the passionate core of that life seem even more astonishing.' The New York Times Book Review`He (Honan) gives a sumptuously detailed picture of Marlowe's world..." much-speculated (and previously erroneously reported) aspects of Marlowe's life without neglecting its more ordinary features... The care and depth of this biography honour Marlowe's complexities.' Publishers Weekly`This impressive volume must surely be recognised as the standard Marlowe biography' Roger Hards, The Marlowe Society Newsletter`Honan's great strength lies in his ability to capture the physical texture of Marlowe's world...Honan takes it apart with patience and sound judgement.. . .This is a rich and subtle study, combining convincing scholarship with a fluidity and pace that will appeal to the general reader.' J. P. D. Cooper, Times Literary Supplement`By heaven, this is an excellent, necessary and hugely welcome book. Though it responsibly synthesises previous scholarship, brings new perspectives and enlivens old, its greatest achievement is this: it presents a Marlowe that the sane can live with.' The Independent on Sunday`Honan's book is more than a fine piece if detective work revealing the seedy underbelly of Elizabethan England. It takes the reader on a round tour of Marlowe's work.' Raymond Carr, The Spectator`There's plenty of sparkle in this book.' Andrew Dickson`it is an elegantly written study which must now stand as the best overall biography of one of our most fascinating writers.' Stanley Wells, The Observer`a splendid book' Charles Nicholl, The Sunday Times`Honan has some fascinating new material.' Leanda de Lisle, History Today`Honan's addition to the fleet of books already written about Marlowe is constantly readable and adept at contextualising the history of Marlowe's times around this elusive figure who still fascinates today.' Dermot Bolger, Sunday Business Post`Honan frames the scant documentary evidence with great skill, carefully establishing the historical, religious and political context for each phase of Marlowe's career, and incorporating recent research that sheds more light on Marlowe's espionage career and murder.' William Grimes, New York Times`Honan's biography does more than retell this familiar story...Honan gives a fresh gloss to the old, still undecoded story of the reckoning.' Modern Language Review New in paperback--An exciting account of Christopher Marlowe's colorful life as playwright and spy, based on extensive new research Park Honan is Emeritus Professor at the School of English, University of Leeds. He has written biographies of Jane Austen, Matthew Arnold, and Robert Browning. His most recent biography, Shakespeare: A Life , was hailed as "the best available biography" ( Boston Globe ) and "impressively researched" ( New York Times ), and The Baltimore Sun wrote "If you have never read a book about William Shakespeare, please read this one."