New research has found that William Shakespeare collaborated with Christopher Marlowe on Edward III, a historical play published anonymously in 1596. The findings suggest Shakespeare was the main author, while Marlowe contributed several sections. The discovery challenges the long-held belief that the two playwrights were primarily rivals.
Dr. Rory Loughnane, a Shakespeare scholar at the University of Kent, said the research establishes Shakespeare’s leading role “beyond any reasonable doubt.” The findings could settle a centuries-old debate over the play’s authorship. Scholars had previously linked Shakespeare to several scenes but remained uncertain about how much of the work he wrote.
Research identifies Shakespeare and Marlowe as co-writers
Loughnane worked with Brett Greatley-Hirsch, a professor of Renaissance literature and textual studies at the University of Leeds, to investigate the play’s origins. The researchers used computer-based text analysis to compare Edward III with confirmed works by 10 playwrights active between the late 1580s and mid-1590s.
In one test, the analysis attributed 23 sections of the play to Shakespeare and nine to Marlowe. The results suggest Shakespeare wrote most of the work, with Marlowe contributing a smaller portion. The findings build on earlier research into the play’s disputed authorship.
When Loughnane edited Edward III for the New Oxford Shakespeare in 2016, he concluded that Shakespeare probably wrote some scenes. However, he said further research was needed to determine the extent of his involvement. The play follows England’s King Edward III and his military campaigns in France during the Hundred Years’ War. Although published in 1596, it was not included in the First Folio, the collection of Shakespeare’s plays published in 1623.
Shakespeare and Marlowe may have worked together for years
The discovery also offers new evidence about the relationship between two of Elizabethan England’s most prominent playwrights. Shakespeare and Marlowe were born just weeks apart in 1564. Both established their careers in London’s theater world during the late 1580s and early 1590s.
Loughnane explained that scholars have traditionally viewed the writers as competitors who influenced each other’s work. However, the latest evidence suggests their relationship involved direct collaboration. Both playwrights also explored figures from classical literature. Marlowe featured Helen of Troy in Doctor Faustus, while Shakespeare portrayed her in Troilus and Cressida. Their different interpretations reflect the lasting influence of the Trojan War story on English theater.
New evidence points to a lasting writing partnership
A 2016 study had already identified Marlowe as a co-author of Shakespeare’s three Henry VI plays. Combined with the new findings, that research suggests Shakespeare and Marlowe maintained a working relationship across several plays during their early careers. Their collaboration on Edward III, believed to have been written around 1592, suggests the two writers worked together while both were in their 20s.
Shakespeare’s works also reflected influences from ancient Greek literature and mythology. His plays featured Greek historical and mythological figures, including Theseus and Hippolyta in A Midsummer Night’s Dream.
The findings add to scholarly understanding of Shakespeare’s early career and the collaborative nature of Elizabethan theater. The research is expected to appear in the winter issue of the academic journal Shakespeare Quarterly.
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