Marlowe Papers - Softcover

"A remarkable book. It is also a brave one...Barber conjures up some beautifully realized scenes." --New York Times Book Review

"With the screw-tightening verve of a great thriller and the romantic pull of Renaissance poetry, the novel -- which purports that Marlowe is the true author of William Shakespeare's legendary oeuvre -- is a gripping, lyrical, most unlikely page-turner." --American Way

"Lush, inspired and provocative, this spellbinding dossier conjures up a bewitching Marlowe." --Kirkus

"Marlowe meets fascinating characters, sneaky spies and counterfeiters, gifted poets and playwrights, self-serving noblemen and vicious gutter-snipes. Barber's vivid portrayal of filthy, stinking London, the horror of the plague, the rampant and bloody religious intolerance, and the squalid daily life of 16th-century Europe are accurate and convincing." --Publishers Weekly

"A must-read for anyone interested in Marlowe, William Shakespeare or 16th-century English history . . . The writing is superb, the plot moves quickly and Marlowe's story is compelling. An award-winning, highly original novel in verse about the life of Christopher Marlowe--even after the world believed him dead." --Shelf Awareness

"A damn fine book . . . Barber's focus is to tell a story through gorgeous verse." --The Common

"Terrifically accomplished and enjoyable . . . restores one's faith in English fiction." --Fay Weldon

"Searing poetry meets compelling narrative in a historical tour de force that had me ripping through the pages. My only complaint is that everything else I read for a while now will, I fear, suffer by comparison." --Robyn Young, author of The Fall of the Templars and Brethren

"For me personally, this is the most complete Marlowe I've ever encountered." --Will Self, author of Umbrella

"A story of ambition, infamy, beer, cunning, facepaint, red herrings, knives, and pen and paper, [The Marlowe Papers] is not only an homage to Marlowe but a celebration of poetry - and of its power to allow the dead to speak." --Blake Morrison, author of And When Did You Last See Your Father?

"The best book I've read for a long time. Truly innovative, truly original, and a powerful poetic journey to another truth. Ros Barber has told a great story, in a fascinating way, so fascinating that she had someone like me gripped to the very end. This really is a joy to read and a true work of art." --Benjamin Zephaniah, author of Gangsta Boy and Face

"The Marlowe Papers is a bravura performance: a noir thriller in doublet and hose. The life of Kit Marlowe, the baddest boy of English Literature, is great fare for any writer. There's espionage and sex; murder and treachery; and, this being England, a healthy dose of cross-dressing. And Barber serves it, steaming hot." --Simon Worrall, author of The Poet and The Murderer

"Combines historical erudition with a sharply satisfying read. Marlowe's passion infects the page; Barber's skill draws the fever." --The Independent (UK)

"The Marlowe Papers is the best read, so far, this year." --The Sunday Express