The Marlen of Prague: Christopher Marlowe and the City of Gold by Angeli Primlani

(Guardbridge Books, 2022)

Reviewed by Andy Sawyer

The Armada is sailing towards England. Playwright, spy, and mage Christopher Marlowe is pulled by his sister Ann from dalliance with his lover Thomas Kyd (author of The Spanish Tragedy) to take part in a rite that will turn back the invasion. They save the country and are back in time for supper and that—apart from Marlowe’s attempts to bury the memories of the Spell in poetry and smoking—is that. Until five years later, when Kyd (who in the new reality which comes to pass never wrote The Spanish Tragedy but is still in possession of incriminating writings left by Marlowe in his rooms) is arrested and Marlowe himself is told that he is going to have to “die” and be sent undercover to bring arch-magician John Dee back from Prague.

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Review from BSFA Review 20 - Download your copy here.