The Age of Shakespeare: Play Guide and Free Edition
The Age of Shakespeare: author and translator credits, catalogue synopsis, subjects and links to the Gutenberg reading formats.

The Age of Shakespeare is catalogued by Project Gutenberg with author credits for Swinburne, Algernon Charles (1837–1909).
Catalogue synopsis
Project Gutenberg supplies this automated synopsis of the opening text:
"The Age of Shakespeare" by Algernon Charles Swinburne is a literary criticism written in the early 20th century. This work delves into the lives and contributions of prominent playwrights and poets from the era of Shakespeare, notably Christopher Marlowe, John Webster, and Thomas Dekker, among others, while also exploring their influence on Shakespeare's writing and the context of their times. At the start of the text, the author pays homage to Christopher Marlowe, identifying him as the first great English poet who established the potential of English blank verse. Swinburne emphasizes Marlowe's groundbreaking work, particularly in tragedy, highlighting plays like "Tamburlaine" and "Doctor Faustus." He discusses Marlowe’s stylistic innovations and sets the stage for a broader examination of other contemporaries, like Webster and Dekker, whom he believes also shaped the landscape of English theater. The opening sets a tone of deep admiration for Marlowe's genius and the literary revolution that marked the age, establishing a foundation for the critical exploration that follows.
Book and edition facts
- Title: The Age of Shakespeare
- Author credits: Swinburne, Algernon Charles (1837–1909)
- Catalogue language: English
Catalogue subjects
- English drama -- Early modern and Elizabethan, 1500-1600 -- History and criticism
Gutenberg collections
- Category: British Literature
- Category: Essays, Letters & Speeches
- Category: Plays/Films/Dramas
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View the complete Gutenberg catalogue record. Project Gutenberg identifies this edition as public domain in the United States; that designation does not establish its copyright status in every country.
Source notes
Catalogue metadata is public domain and is supplied through Gutendex, which imports Gutenberg's machine-readable catalogue. The automated synopsis is source-supplied, not an independently verified review. Author dates above describe the credited people; no ebook release date is presented as the book's original publication date.


