So an anonymous poster found an old post of mine entitled Who Killed Christopher Marlowe? where he begs assistance: Here’s the thing,I’ve got an english project on this guy, this Marlowe fellow,and I want to know precisely how he died,and who killed him. can you recommend me a reliable source? you are Tht Shekespeare Geek after all. I could go to the usual Wikipedia and things, but I’m wondering if somebody out there’s a Marlowe Geek. The best I’d be able to tell the commenter is the usual about Marlowe dying in a bar fight, and the theories about him secretly being a spy, faking his own death, that sort of thing. Anybody got better, more reliable info than me?
PBS’s Frontline did an episode about the Marlovian authorship theory.
The book you want is called THE RECKONING: The Murder of Christopher Marlowe, by Charles Nicholl. It has the whole story, including false leads and dead ends, and explores every avenue you could want. Great read, too. “A great reckoning in a little room” indeed.
I’ve got a book on the shelf entitled WHO KILLED KIT MARLOWE? It’s laying there, taunting me, as I just haven’t had the time to crack it.
Oh hey, look who it is. I have a post in my queue called Who Killed David Blixt? I guess I’ll have to can that one. Nice to have you back. 🙂
Raises hand.
Hi. I’m Lis and I’m a Marlowe Geek. [“Hi, Lis!”]
I’ve done a fair bit of reading and research on most matters Marlowe, if you want to point the person my way.
The best source I can recommend (better than many books for sale) is Peter Farey’s website @ http://www2.prestel.co.uk/rey/index.htm
His essay on Marlowe’s Sudden and Fearful End is one of the best accounts on what is and isn’t known about Marlowe’s death, well footnoted and fairly concise.
I have to run, but I’ll try to get you more info later. Just let me know what you need.
Thanks Lis (and everybody)! I have no further info on the poster, he came in anonymous. If he’s listening perhaps he’ll post more info.
he got stabbed in the eye in a bar.