Marlowe revealed as co-writer of Shakespeare trilogy

HE HAS long been classed as one of William Shakespeare’s major rivals and influences, but scholars now believe Christopher Marlowe’s links with the Bard run even deeper.

The Elizabethan playwright is to be given credit as a co-writer of the Henry VI plays in a new Oxford University Press edition of Shakespeare’s work.

Marlowe, who is famed for penning Doctor Faustus, was suspected to have been involved in writing the three parts of Henry VI as early as the 18th century.

However until now he has not received joint credit for the plays in an edition of Shakespeare’s collected works.

The forthcoming edition of The New Oxford Shakespeare reflects research by academics using modern computerised tools, which suggest that Shakespeare worked alongside other writers more often than previously thought.

The research, by 23 scholars, identified 17 of 44 Shakespeare plays as being co-written by other authors.

In contrast, in 1986 the collected works suggested eight of 39 plays were collaborative.

Dr Gary Taylor, one of the edition’s general editors, said that in the 1980s the suggestion that Shakespeare partnered with other writers prompted outrage, but now there is “empirical evidence” for collaboration.

“We have been able to verify Marlowe’s presence in those three plays strongly and clearly enough,” he told The Guardian.

“We can now be confident that they didn’t just influence each other, but they worked with each other. Rivals sometimes collaborate.”

The four volumes of The New Oxford Shakespeare are scheduled to be published between the end of October and December.