Christopher Marlowe, an exact contemporary of William Shakespeare, was born in Canterbury, the son of a cobbler. He was educated at King's School, Canterbury, and received a scholarship to Corpus Christi, Cambridge, where he obtained his B.A. in 1584 and subsequently an MA in 1587.

During his period at Cambridge he is believed to have undertaken espionage work on behalf of the Crown, the exact nature of which is unclear.

In 1587 he left for London to become a playwright. As a dramatist Marlowe was notably successful and prolific; between 1587-93 he is known to have written no fewer than six plays, including Tamburlaine the Great, Edward II, The Jew of Malta and Doctor Faustus, as well as various poetical works.

At the age of 29 he was fatally stabbed by a man named Ingram Friser in a tavern in Deptford, allegedly in an argument over the 'reckoning' (the bill); but speculation that his killing may have had a more mysterious and political motive continues to this day. He is buried in St. Nicholas's Church, Deptford.

For further information on Marlowe's life and work, visit www.marlowe-society.org, the website of The Marlowe Society.