754 Christopher Marlowe (with Stephen Greenblatt) | My Last Book with Eric White

The History of Literature

Jacke Wilson

History, Arts, Books

4.6 • 1.3K Ratings

🗓️ 1 December 2025

⏱️ 58 minutes

🔗️ Recording | iTunes | RSS

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Summary

Christopher Marlowe (1564-1593) was born into relative obscurity and died in mysterious circumstances at the age of 29. And yet, somehow this ambitious cobbler's son brought about a spectacular explosion of English literature, language, and culture. In this episode, Jacke talks to Stephen Greenblatt about his book Dark Renaissance: The Dangerous Times and Fatal Genius of Shakespeare's Greatest Rival, which illuminates both Marlowe's times and the origins and significance of his work. PLUS author Eric Marshall White (Johannes Gutenberg: A Biography in Books) stops by to discuss his choice for the last book he will ever read. Join Jacke on a trip through literary England (signup closing soon)! The History of Literature Podcast Tour is happening in May 2026! Act now to join Jacke and fellow literature fans on an eight-day journey through literary England in partnership with ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠John Shors Travel⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠. Scheduled stops include The Charles Dickens Museum, Dr. Johnson's house, Jane Austen's Bath, Tolkien's Oxford, Shakespeare's Globe Theater, and more. Find out more by emailing jackewilsonauthor@gmail.com or masahiko@johnshorstravel.com, or by contacting us through our website ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠historyofliterature.com⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠. Or visit the ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠History of Literature Podcast Tour itinerary⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ at ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠John Shors Travel⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠. The music in this episode is by Gabriel Ruiz-Bernal. Learn more at ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠gabrielruizbernal.com⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠. Help support the show at ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠patreon.com/literature ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠or ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠historyofliterature.com/donate ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠. The History of Literature Podcast is a member of Lit Hub Radio and the Podglomerate Network. Learn more at ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠thepodglomerate.com/historyofliterature⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Transcript

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0:00.0	The History of Literature Podcast is a member of the Podglomerate Network and Lit Hub Radio.
0:08.7	Hey, Harry. Hello, mate.
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0:39.1	Think about cheese.
0:40.9	Make your thoughts cheesier.
0:43.3	Now add 100% chicken breast fillet, Chipotle sauce and a meadow cheese melt.
0:47.4	And it's giving the new cheesy chicken stack at McDonald's.
0:51.4	Did we mention it's cheesy?
0:53.0	Cheese.
0:57.0	Available to the 4th of Jan, 2026 from 11 a.m. Price and participation may vary.
0:58.0	Subjects availability.
0:59.0	Hello, Christopher Marlowe was born to a poor provincial cobbler and murdered at the age of 29.
1:07.0	In between, he wrote seven plays and some extraordinary poems. He published nothing under his own
1:13.1	name during his lifetime, but today we know him as a fascinating person, his life shrouded with
1:19.0	secrets, his efforts as a writer accompanied by his forays into intrigue and spied him.
1:26.4	He is central to the Elizabethan poets and playwrights,
1:29.8	traveling in their circles, innovating in ways they soon adopted.
1:34.3	In the words of our guest today, Christopher Marlowe, quote,
	...

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