Books by Christopher Marlowe

A collection of the four major plays by Christopher Marlowe: Tamburlaine, Parts 1 and 2, The Jew of Malta, Edward II and Dr Faustus, with a new introduction by Brian Gibbons. All of these plays are widely studied at both A and undergraduate level.

This unique anthology offers a more comprehensive look at the poems of Christopher Marlowe, England's first great poet and playwright.

Marlowe's seven plays dramatise the fatal lure of potent forces, whether religious, occult or erotic. In the victories of Tamburlaine, Faustus's encounters with the demonic, the irreverence of Barabas in THE JEW OF MALTA, and the humiliation of Edward II in his fall from power and influence, Marlowe explores the shifting balance between power and helplessness, the sacred and its desecration.

Set in Malta, a European island off the coast of Italy, The Famous Tragedy of the Rich Jew of Malta by Christopher Marlowe follows a rich Jewish merchant, Barabas, who enjoys the privileges that his wealth allows. When the governor of Malta, Ferneze, summons Barabas to his office, Barabas is intrigued and complies immediately. However, when the governor tells Barabas of a deal he is keeping with the Turks, Barabas is appalled. Ferneze demands that Barabas gives up half of his wealth in order to help the government pay tribute to the Turks, but the merchant refuses to cooperate, protesting the injustice. Filled with anger, Ferneze then decides to seize all of Barabas'' assets, including his home. Unable to dispute the decision, Barabas leaves to begin plotting his revenge. First, he is determined to recover the treasure he has hidden around his home, which Ferneze turned into a convent to mock Barabas'' own religious beliefs. After his plan to steal back some of the hidden fortune in his house is successful, Barabas begins to enact his revenge. Using his daughter as a pawn, Barabas promises to marry her to two men. As Barabas continues his cunning scheme to harm Ferneze, a chain of tragedies ensues, involving manipulation, murder, and even the threat of war. Christopher Marlowe''s The Famous Tragedy of the Rich Jew of Malta was an immediate success following its first performance in 1592. Compelled by the drama, characterization and the complex themes of religion, class, capitalism, and prejudice, audiences have been invested in Marlowe''s tragedy for centuries. This edition of The Famous Tragedy of the Rich Jew of Malta by Christopher Marlowe is now presented in an easy-to-read font and features a striking new cover decision, creating an accessible reading experience. With these accommodations, The Famous Tragedy of the Rich Jew of Malta is restored to modern standards while the original genius and vivid imagery of Marlowe''s work is preserved.

When Edward ¿ becomes king, he uses his new authority to pardon his favorite nobleman, Piers Gaveston, from his exile, angering key supporters. Soon after he inherits the throne, King Edward ¿ of England writes a letter to his favorite nobleman, Piers Gaveston, who had previously been exiled, asking him to come back to England. Eager to return and happy to have the king¿s favor, Gaveston travels to the kingdom immediately. However, when the other noblemen and advisors hear of Edward¿s decision, they quickly try to talk him out of it. Believing that Gaveston is a manipulative social climber, the noblemen warn Edward that he should reconsider his pardon. However, Edward loves Gaveston deeply, and refuses to revoke his pardon. He appoints Gaveston the power to issue commands and draw money from the treasury, happy to be reunited with the man. Meanwhile, the angered noblemen start to gather a group of resistance. Concerned about the power Edward has given Gaveston, they continue their attempts to disillusion him, convincing others close to Edward to talk him into turning against the man. As some of Edward¿s closest friends and family, take a side against him, the distrust the nobles hold for Gaveston begins to bleed into contempt for the king. With schemes of manipulation, invasion, and abdication plague the kingdom, Edward must reconsider his love for Gaveston before it causes his downfall. First debuted in 1592, Edward the Second is among the legendary playwright¿s final works. Considered to be Marlowe¿s masterpiece, Edward the Second is praised for its unique topic, disciplined rhetoric, and homoeotic undertones. Having been adapted for film and radio, as well as inspiring theatre revivals, Edward the Second is one of Marlowe¿s most popular and celebrated works. With exemplary writing and a high-stakes plot, Edward the Second provides an intriguing perspective on the rule of Edward ¿ that remains fascinating to modern audience. This edition of Edward the Second by Christopher Marlowe is now presented in an easy-to-read font and features a striking new cover decision, creating an accessible reading experience. With these accommodations, Edward the Second is restored to modern standards while the original genius and vivid imagery of Marlowe¿s poetry is preserved.

Driven by an insatiable thirst for power, Doctor Faustus chooses to make the ultimate sacrifice to become an all-knowing practitioner of traditional and supernatural arts. He enters an agreement with Lucifer, trading his soul for unbridled access to a catalog of mystical spells. Doctor Faustus signs a contract ensuring 24 years of service from the demon Mephastophilis. In exchange, Lucifer will own his soul for all of eternity. Faustus immediately takes advantage of his divine skills, using them to impress various men of distinction. During his meteoric rise, Faustus experiences moments of regret, but they're quickly quelled under Mephastophilis' influence. As he approaches death, Faustus is overwhelmed by fear and futile attempts to escape the inevitable. In The Tragical History of Doctor Faustus, Marlowe uses supernatural themes to explore the dire trappings of human nature. With influences from Christian doctrine, the story implicates the true wages of sin stemming from greed, gluttony and pride. The author illustrates how the greatest tragedy is the one of your own making. With an eye-catching new cover, and professionally typeset manuscript, this edition of The Tragical History of Doctor Faustus is both modern and readable.

Separated into two parts, Christopher Marlowe's Tamburlaine the Great follows the conquests of an outlaw who slowly rises to power through extreme displays of aggression. When Mycetes, the king of Persia, complains to his brother, Cosroe, about a group of outlaws that were causing trouble, Cosroe claimed that Mycetes was weak, and that a king shouldn't have such a problem. In response, Mycetes sends out a powerful soldier to kill the leader of the outlaws, Tamburlaine. Though the soldier's army was twice the size of Tamburlaine's, the outlaw was hardly discouraged. Using his wit and charm, Tamburlaine attempts to convince the soldier to convert to his side, merging the two armies. As Tamburlaine grows stronger, he gains new allies, such as his clever wife, Zenocrate. Though he seemed to be just a petty outlaw at first, the leaders of prominent Eurasian countries become increasingly concerned as Tamburlaine slowly overcomes armies and nations with force, manipulation, and unlikely alliances. As his makeshift armies continue to challenge elite armed forces, countless lives are at stake as Tamburlaine's bloody ambition only grows. When first released, Tamburlaine the Great both fascinated and disgusted the 16th century audience. Gaining a mix of fame and infamy, Tamburlaine the Great is praised for its masterful imagery and language, enchanting audiences with its drama. However, Marlowe still received criticism for the play's suspected atheist undertones and the violence associated with the play, both real and depicted. With strong themes of humanism, Tamburlaine the Great celebrates the accomplishments of Tamburlaine with little regard to the character's cruelty and aggression, creating a thought-provoking narrative that stays with readers long after the play's conclusion. Often referenced in prominent literary works, Tamburlaine the Great remains relevant with radio and film adaptations, and is still performed in theatres around the world. This edition of Tamburlaine the Great by Christopher Marlowe is now presented in an easy-to-read font and features a striking new cover decision, creating an accessible reading experience. With these accommodations, Tamburlaine the Great is restored to modern standards while the original genius and vivid imagery of Marlowe's poetry is preserved.

Doctor Faustus or, The Tragical History of the Life and Death of Doctor Faustusis an Elizabethan tragedy by Christopher Marlowe, based on German stories about the title character Faust. It was written sometime between 1589 and 1592, and may have been performed between 1592 and Marlowe''s death in 1593. Two different versions of the play were published in the Jacobean era, several years later. The 1604 quarto, printed by Valentine Simmes for Thomas Law; this is usually called the A text. The title page attributes the play to "Ch. Marl.". A second edition (A2) of first version was printed by George Eld for John Wright in 1609. It is merely a direct reprint of the 1604 text. The text is short for an English Renaissance play, only 1485 lines long. The 1616 quarto, published by John Wright, the enlarged and altered text; usually called the B text. This second text was reprinted in 1619, 1620, 1624, 1631, and as late as 1663. Additions and alterations were made by the minor playwright and actor Samuel Rowley and by William Borne (or Birde), and possibly by Marlowe himself. The 1604 version was once believed to be closer to the play as originally performed in Marlowe''s lifetime, simply because it was older. The 1616 version omits 36 lines but adds 676 new lines, making it roughly one third longer than the 1604 version. Among the lines shared by both versions, there are some small but significant changes in wording; for example, "Never too late, if Faustus can repent" in the 1604 text becomes "Never too late, if Faustus will repent" in the 1616 text, a change that offers a very different possibility for Faustus''s hope and repentance.

This reader is accompanied with a CD that contains the full audio of the text in MP3 format. Doctor Faustus is a clever man who is greedy for knowledge and power. After he signs an agreement with the Devil, in his own blood, his new skills are admired around the world. But there are two sides to an agreement with the Devil. There is a price to pay.

This Norton Critical Edition includes:The 1633 quarto (Q) text-the only authoritative version-with modernised spelling and silent alteration of obvious errors, of confusing punctuation and of word-form changes. A Textual Notes section follows the play.Editorial matter by Lloyd Kermode.Six illustrations and one map.An unusually rich selection of sixteenth- and seventeenth-century contexts, thematically organised to promote classroom discussion. Topics include "Theater and Marlowe", "Machiavelli and Mediterranean Identities" and "Ideas of the Jew".Twenty-seven critical interpretations spanning three centuries and including seven considerations of The Jew of Malta in performance.A chronology and a selected bibliography.About the SeriesRead by more than 12 million students over fifty-five years, Norton Critical Editions set the standard for apparatus that is right for undergraduate readers. The three-part format-annotated text, contexts and criticism-helps students to better understand, analyse and appreciate the literature, while opening a wide range of teaching possibilities for instructors. Whether in print or in digital format, Norton Critical Editions provide all the resources students need.

Die tragische Historie vom Doktor Faustus ist ein Drama des englischen Renaissance-Schriftstellers Christopher Marlowe. Das Stück entstand in Anlehnung an die ins Englische übersetzte Historia von D. Johann Fausten, die später unter anderen auch Goethe inspirierte. Die Figur des Dr. Faustus stellt den macht- und wissensgierigen Menschen dar, der keine Grenzen kennt und sich sogar mit dem Teufel verbündet, um seine hoch fliegenden Wünsche zu befriedigen, der die menschlichen Grenzen zu überschreiten und die tief sitzenden Begierden und Sehnsüchte zu verwirklichen sucht. Das Stück kennzeichnet die Sprengung des engen gesellschaftlichen und geistigen Korsetts der Zeit und die Suche nach dem Absoluten, das bei Goethe später weiter differenziert wird. Marlowes Geschichte vom besessenen Faustus ist gleichermaßen ein Volksstück mit reichlich plastischer Moral als auch ein Drama mit erheblichem philosophischen Tiefgang. Die Tragödie Edward II reflektiert ein Drama, in dem nicht mehr das Panorama der historischen Hintergründe vorrangig ist, sondern der Charakter des Herrschers selbst. Ihn herauszuarbeiten sind alle Szenen arrangiert. Zugleich wird ein Frauencharakter, Königin Isabella, die Ehefrau Edwards, in seiner Wandlung zum Bösen begründet. Marlowe zeigt einen Staat, der auf seinen Untergang zutreibt, in dem Macht und Recht nur leere Floskeln sind und der in seiner Willkür grausam und absurd erscheint. Christopher Marlowe (1564-1593), Spitzname "Kit", war ein englischer Spion, Dichter, Dramatiker und Übersetzer des elisabethanischen Zeitalters. Manche Literaturwisssenschaftler nennen Marlowe ein "Shakespeare ebenbürtiges Genie" und "den Vater der "englischen Tragödie"