Stephen Greenblatt on NPR’s "All Things Considered"
September 10, 2025
Pulitzer Prize-winning historian Stephen Greenblatt joined NPR’s All Things Considered to discuss his new book, Dark Renaissance: The Dangerous Times and Fatal Genius of Shakespeare’s Greatest Rival. In conversation with Ari Shapiro, Greenblatt explores the thrilling and mysterious life of Christopher Marlowe—a brilliant playwright, spy, and rule-breaker whose work paved the way for Shakespeare and continues to shape our culture today.
In this wide-ranging interview, Greenblatt reflects on Marlowe’s daring genius, the risks he took in an age of repression, and what his story reveals about the enduring power of art to challenge authority.