Dictionary of Literary Biography: Elizabethan Dramatists

The best-known dramatist from this period is perhaps the most famous playwright of all time-William Shakespeare. However, Shakespeare had many contemporaries whose talents rivaled his in many aspects. In fact, many plays of the period, outside of Shakespeares, are still seen in repertory and educational theaters today. Frequently performed without intermission in outdoor theaters and during daylight, these playwrights works captivated audiences during their era much as they still do in todays state-of-the-art theaters. The study of authors who created such works as The Alchemist, Doctor Faustus, and Hamlet, remains an integral aspect of every students education. 23 entries include: George Chapman, John Day, Richard Greene, Thomas Heywood, Ben Johnson, Christopher Marlowe, Thomas Preston, William Shakespeare.