Dark Renaissance: The Dangerous Times and Fatal Genius of Shakespeare's Greatest Rival [Hardcover]

A As was clear from In this thrilling and twisty tale, Greenblatt focuses on Christopher Marlowe, the shoemakers son famed for provocative plays like Doctor Faustus. With a denouement as propulsive as that of any spy novel, he brilliantly captures 16th-century England. [A] thrilling tale. In [A] terrific read& Stephen Greenblatt has the rare ability to write vivid narratives for the general public that rest on firm scholarly foundations. This gift is particularly valuable in his new book, Greenblatt has translated a donnish provocation into the sinews of an unforgettable literary biographical tour de force. Almost single-handed, he has curated a rehabilitation of Marlowe's reputation as the greatest rival, collaborator and exact contemporary of the glover's boy from Stratford. This?gripping biography?focuses on Marlowe's brief, brilliant life ... Greenblatt fills [the book] with lively descriptions of the world that shaped this remarkable mind. Since his critical debut& [Greenblatt] has understood and practiced?criticism as a higher form of storytelling. The same narrative flair is?beautifully showcased?in? [E]legant, engrossing... From aristocrats to shopkeepers to bawdy baskets (prostitutes), Greenblatt captures the crowds that cut across classes. His analysis is Shakespearean in spirit, crisp and conversational, tipped with puns and wordplay... [R]iveting... In previous books including A fine example of how narrative nonfiction can ensnare readers as deeply as plotted novels. An evocative new biography. The magic of Stephen Greenblatts attempt to reconstruct the playwrights story is brilliant. Stephen Greenblatts superb skills as a literary historian and critic are thrillingly on display in [A] brilliant work& Greenblatt efficiently traces Marlowes improbably journey... Greenblatt writes comfortably for a general audience despite his academic background, skillfully melding conventional biography with accessible and informative literary criticislÈ