Marlowe - Complete Plays

His seven plays are notable for their intense imaginative energy, overreaching heroes and startling shifts of tone

Tamburlaine the Great shows an unstoppable conquering warlord transformed into a murderous automaton obsessed with sadistic ceremonial. Barabas

The Jew of Malta, is not so much a crude anti-semitic caricature as a horribly comic monster-in-the-making surrounded by greedy but sometimes sanctimonious Christians

And Dr Faustus is a supremely powerful drama of damnation, whatever Marlowe's personal religious views

This volume also includes a crucial piece of evidence - a 'note' by his former partner-in-crime accusing him of atheism and colourfully blasphemous obscenity