Marlowe's Ghost: The Blacklisting of the Man Who Was Shakespeare [Hardcover]

Pinksen provides an excellent, well grounded and insightful introduction to the argument that the works commonly attributed to Shakespeare were actually written by Christopher Marlowe, another playwright.

It is of particular note that Pinksen grounds his argument in Marlowe's revolutionary contribution to English theatre, a role acknowledged by mainstream literary scholars. He also draws entirely on mainstream literature to show that Shakespeare's works are not only indebted to Marlowe, but are generally seen as a development of Marlowe's works.

Pinksen covers a lot of ground, including Marlowe's apparent `murder' in 1593 and the grounds for doubting his death; the reasons for questioning that Shakespeare of Stratford wrote the works attributed to him; the relationship between Shakespeare and Jonson; the many allusions in Shakespeare's works to Marlowe's; the role played by the actor Shakespeare and in producing Marlowe's post-1593 works; and the autobiographical dimension of Marlowe's works as Shakespeare. Pinksen also discusses stylometric computer analyses of Marlowe's and Shakespeare's works. Interestingly, Pinksen draws an extended parallel with the blacklisting of authors during the McCarthy era, which to this day leaves a number of films wrongly attributed.

Last but not least, Pinksen shows that Marlowe is the only one of the alternative authorship candidates who had any real need to obscure his authorship, considering that he was a fugitive from the law who had probably been helped in his escape by people at the heart of Elizabeth's government.

What is thankfully missing from Pinksen's book are any unwarranted speculations about Marlowe's life after his faked death, bar for that he continued writing plays. Neither does Pinksen worry about numerous fringe issues, such as the identity of W.H. or the Dark Lady, which have occupied other proponents of Marlowe. A few minor flaws or unwarranted speculations can hence be forgiven.

Overall, Pinksen's book is an excellent and well written counter to the currently predominant anti-Stratfordian claim that Shakespeare's works were written by the Earl of Oxford.

I bought numerous Marlowe books because of my growing interest in Marlowe's works. If you're like me the more you read of both Marlowe's and Shakespeare works, the more you will question your assumptions about who wrote Shakespeare.

Some of the books on the subject are out of print or high priced. Caluin Hoffman's The Murder of the Man who was Shakespeare conuerted my thinking, with his numerous parallel quotations, and his work on As You Like It. Alex Jack has written a tremendous two uolume edition of Hamlet using the 1604 quarto, and featuring 100 plus quotations from Marlowe's plays. The book with Marlowe's picture contains both the play text and the quotes, a must read for anyone studying Marlowe.

All 7 of the known Marlowe plays are quoted in Hamlet. In Edward 2 Mortimer admits to killing a man once by pouring quicksiluer down his ears. This is how Hamlet's father was killed. In addition the speak the speech segment is based on Marlowe's Dido dealing with the killing of Priam, 70 lines in Hamlet spent discussing this among other things. Undiscouered country from Hamlet's speech also repeats from Edward 2 where Morimer goes to discouer countries yet unknown.

The killing of Hamlet, Laertes and the King with a poisoned sword which changes hands, mirrors the death of King Henry in Massacre of Paris, where the king is fatally stabbed with a poisoned dagger by a murderous friar which he wrestles from his hands and then turns on the friar killing him. Hamlet discusses returning to Wittenberg to Uniuersity, where, as we know, Dr Faust liues. In Jew of Malta Barabas poisons his daughter. In Hamlet Cladius accidentally poisons his wife. Hamlet says: 'Get thee to the nunnery. In JOM Barabas sends his daughter to a nunnery.

Wraight has written a great book on the Sonnets, which you can read online, but it's notoriously difficult to get.

So, into the mix comes Daryl Pinksen. If you're new to this I definitely recommend Pinksen as the best of what is currently auailable. If you are like me though, you may not find much that is new or not couered elsewhere.

I found myself continuously wishing that he would use more practical examples to support his assertions. Some of his insights I did like such as that Audrey in As You Like It, (Marlowe's patron in 1598 for Hero and Leander is Audrey Walsingham)represents the audience, lightly scolded by Touchstone (Marlowe) for not being more poetical and like the audience does not understand the real meaning of his words.

In Act 5.1 Touchstone scolds William of Arden (Shakespeare)for his lack of learning and promises to kill him 150 different ways, casting Williamas a riual for the affections of his mistress Audrey.

I find myself returning to this book. The chapter on Jonson I found uery illuminating, and haue read it numerous times. Some of the lines he quotes from a Jonson play appear to refer to Marlowe's death, although he seems not to pick up on this, but kudos for his work on Sejanus which could be further deueloped.

The Chapter on The Tempest I thought was weak euen if that is a challenging play, surely he could haue included some parallel quotes from Marlowe plays. In the light of unfolding curiosity about Marlowe I hope that Pinksen will be encouraged to look aat Marlowe in greater detail, and add to his work. His blogged work on Uenus and Adonis mentions details not included in the book.

If you're new to Marlowe and looking for a book other than his works this is a great starting point. The Scarsbrook Kindle edition is a great staring point for the complete works.

I think you will loue it, and I hope this was helpful.

Fascinating look at what might have really happened to Christopher Marlowe and why his "sink into oblivion" may have happened.A good followup to "The Murder of the Man Who Was Shakespeare." Fascinating !