Shakespeare and Marlowe identified as co-authors of Edward III

A linguistic analysis has revealed that William Shakespeare and Christopher Marlowe collaborated on the historical drama “Edward III”, which was published anonymously in 1596. For centuries, the two playwrights were viewed primarily as rivals within the London theatrical scene.

Researchers Rory Loughnane from the University of Kent and Brett Greatley-Hirsch from the University of Leeds conducted the study, which attributes 23 segments of the play to Shakespeare and nine to Marlowe. The findings, set to be published in the academic journal Shakespeare Quarterly, provide the first significant evidence of a collaborative effort between the two dramatists and may alter the established literary canons for both authors.