(Drivebycuriosity) - Christopher Marlow was a poet, playwright and colleague of Shakespeare. He became popular with his play "Tamburlaine", wrote an early version of "Faust" and other pieces. Marlow might have become as famous as his competitor, but his life ended early under unknown circumstances. Not long ago I enjoyed the novel "The Tip of the Hangman" by Allison Epstein, which described Marlow´s career as a spy for Queen Elizabeth (my review ). The novel woke my interest into the life of the playwright.
"Tamburlaine must Die", by Louise Welsh tells the last - very dark - days of Marlow ( amazon). The compact novel (around 130 pages) is written in first person and begins with the statement:"Whatever the future be, if you are reading this, you read the words of a man who knew how to live and who died an unnatural and unjust death".
We learn about Marlow`s relation with his patron Lord Walsingham, Queen Elizabeth`spymaster, his friends & foes, his ambitions and a lot about his fears. Welsh wrote in a poetic style inspired by Marlow`s writings and created a menacing atmosphere. Even the very explicit and elaborately described sex scenes read like poems.
The novel is a travel back into very sinister and dangerous times.
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