This book gives a brief biography (with a timetable or chronology at the beginning of the book) of the author, including
some very interesting questions about the various accounts of Marlowe's life given elsewhere, especially about the circumstances surrounding his death. This is complemented by a section on the Elizabethan stage and theatre during Marlowe's time and somewhat after. The main part of the
book consists of six chapters discussing in detail the plots, characters, and dramatic values and aspects of Marlowe's plays:
TAMBURLAINE THE GREAT, PART I;
TAMBURLAINE THE GREAT, PART II;
THE JEW OF MALTA;
THE MASSACRE AT PARIS;
DOCTOR FAUSTUS;
EDWARD II; and
DIDO, QUEEN OF CARTHAGE.
Pinciss emphasizes both Marlowe's genius and his growth as a dramatist. He discusses the difficulties of the texts of the plays as they have come down to us (the several versions of Dr. Faustus, and the VERY
abbreviated text of Massacre at Paris, for instance). He also details all known productions of the plays up until the time of writing (circa 1975). There are notes, and finally, an extensive bibliography, followed by a very thorough index. This book is very well written and makes an easy and excellent read, with many relatively new and unfamiliar insights.