She's nearly done; maybe I can talk the wife into writing a review. - Edit 1
Before modification by Joel at 26/04/2011 03:01:19 AM
I'm not optimistic though simply because she doesn't spend a lot of time online (and while not everyone was to blame, the group discussion of her existence did little to make her feel a welcome part of the wotmania community 
).
I assume, then, that you claim he didn't die in that pub at Deptford? (When in that conspiratorial mood, of course.)
I think it PLAUSIBLE, if rather unlikely, that he was removed from public view in the course of his service to the Crown as an intelligence agent. The most interesting thing I found in Wikipedias article on the subject was that those who believe Marlowe the true author cite stylometric support and don't take the typical "anti-Stratfordian" view that Shakespeare could NOT have been the author (which is perhaps unsurprising since their backgrounds were so similar that anything disqualifying Shakespeare would probably disqualify Marlowe as well). The most disappointing thing was the reminder that, on the internet, you can always find people to argue passionately, at length and with heavy bias about ANYTHING.
Ultimately the question is academic in several senses. If Marlowes death was faked so he could continue his intelligence work unlooked for we're unlikely to ever find evidence of a fact the British government went to such elaborate lengths to conceal. The similarities between their work are strong enough that any questions about Shakespeares authorship must inevitably include Marlowes name, yet such similarities are hardly surprising given his influence on English drama and poetry in the era immediately before Shakespeares publications began. Mainly, I like the improbable theory because Marlowes contribution in the Elizabethan sonnet doesn't receive its rightful appreciation (while Shakespeares name is synonymous with it for many), and because Goethe is sometimes called "the German Shakespeare", a title that would be ironic if Marlowe penned Shakespeares works as well as Faustus.
).I'll add this book to the list if only for the sake of the awesome title. 
For the record, when feeling conspiratorial, I favor Marlowe.
For the record, when feeling conspiratorial, I favor Marlowe.I assume, then, that you claim he didn't die in that pub at Deptford? (When in that conspiratorial mood, of course.)
I think it PLAUSIBLE, if rather unlikely, that he was removed from public view in the course of his service to the Crown as an intelligence agent. The most interesting thing I found in Wikipedias article on the subject was that those who believe Marlowe the true author cite stylometric support and don't take the typical "anti-Stratfordian" view that Shakespeare could NOT have been the author (which is perhaps unsurprising since their backgrounds were so similar that anything disqualifying Shakespeare would probably disqualify Marlowe as well). The most disappointing thing was the reminder that, on the internet, you can always find people to argue passionately, at length and with heavy bias about ANYTHING.
Ultimately the question is academic in several senses. If Marlowes death was faked so he could continue his intelligence work unlooked for we're unlikely to ever find evidence of a fact the British government went to such elaborate lengths to conceal. The similarities between their work are strong enough that any questions about Shakespeares authorship must inevitably include Marlowes name, yet such similarities are hardly surprising given his influence on English drama and poetry in the era immediately before Shakespeares publications began. Mainly, I like the improbable theory because Marlowes contribution in the Elizabethan sonnet doesn't receive its rightful appreciation (while Shakespeares name is synonymous with it for many), and because Goethe is sometimes called "the German Shakespeare", a title that would be ironic if Marlowe penned Shakespeares works as well as Faustus.