Catherine Toal reviewed the novel Lightborne by Hesse Phillips for The Irish Times

Prof. Dr. Catherine Toal's review of the new novel Lightborne by American author Hesse Phillips appeared in the Saturday edition of The Irish Times on May 4. The novel is the latest in a tradition of fictionalizations of the scandalous life and brutal death of Elizabethan playwright Christopher Marlowe.

A contemporary of Shakespeare, Marlowe is thought to have been a state spy, and was famous for writing plays with ruinously ambitious protagonists. His violent death at the age of 29, the scandals and mysteries of his biography, as well as the provocations articulated by his characters, have inspired many writers to re-imagine this fascinating figure. Hesse gives Marlowe's story a decidedly contemporary twist.

The review can be found here.

Post Date: 05-07-2024