A Dead Man in Deptford
 First edition | |
| Author | Anthony Burgess |
|---|---|
| Cover artist | top: "London from Southwark" (c. 1630, Dutch School) bottom: Anonymous portrait 1585, believed to show Christopher Marlowe |
| Language | English |
| Genre | Historical fiction |
| Publisher | Hutchinson |
Publication date | 6 May 1993 |
| Publication place | United Kingdom |
| Media type | Print (hardcover & paperback) |
| Pages | 288 (hardcover) |
| ISBN | 0-09-177977-4 |
| OCLC | 32241420 |
| 823/.914 20 | |
| LC Class | PR6052.U638 D42 1995 |
A Dead Man in Deptford is a 1993 novel by Anthony Burgess, the last to be published during his lifetime. It depicts the life and character of Christopher Marlowe, a renowned playwright of the Elizabethan era.
Plot
[edit]Reckless but brilliant Cambridge scholar Christopher "Kit" Marlowe is conscripted by Francis Walsingham to be a spy for Queen Elizabeth. Kit and Walsingham's young cousin Thomas experience love at first sight. Kit is soon sent to the English college at Rheims to ferret out recusants conspiring against the Queen and her Church of England. Walsingham and his agents discover a conspiracy, later known as the Babington Plot, to assassinate Elizabeth I. They use this discovery as a means to effect the execution of Elizabeth's rival, Mary, Queen of Scots. Kit is instrumental in the arrest of the conspirators, but horrified by their execution.
Marlowe is portrayed as a secretive, solitary and eventually isolated person. Burgess explores his sexual addiction and passion for the theatre.
Adaptation
[edit]A feature film adaptation was announced in September 2010, starring Sam Riley as Kit and costarring James Purefoy, Ray Winstone, Ed Speleers, and Adam Sinclair in undisclosed roles. The screenplay was written by Michael Elias, and Nick Copus was set to direct.[1][2][3]
References
[edit]- ^ Kilda, Gregg (12 September 2010). "Sam Riley to play Kit Marlowe in Dead Man". The Hollywood Reporter. Retrieved 7 July 2017.
- ^ Fischer, Russ (13 September 2010). "Sam Riley Will Play Christopher Marlowe in A Dead Man In Deptford". /Film. Retrieved 7 July 2017.
- ^ White, James (13 September 2010). "Sam Riley Is A Dead Man In Deptford". Empire. Archived from the original on 7 July 2017. Retrieved 7 July 2017.
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