Marston, John, 1576–1634, English satirist and dramatist, b. Oxfordshire, grad. Oxford, 1594. In accordance with his father's wishes he studied law at Middle Temple, but his interests soon turned to literature. His first published works, a licentious, satiric love poem entitled The Metamorphosis of Pigmalion's Image and The Scourge of Villanie, a volume of coarse verse satires, appeared in 1598. After both these works were burned in 1599 by order of the archbishop of Canterbury, Marston began writing for the stage. His most notable plays are the love story Antonio and Mellida (1599); its sequel, the revenge tragedy Antonio's Revenge (1599); his masterpiece, The Malcontent (1604), a tragicomedy that derides aristocratic behavior; and The Dutch Courtezan (1605), a bitterly anti-female comedy. Marston was involved in the war of the theaters against Ben Jonson from 1599 to 1601, while both playwrights were writing for rival companies of child actors. Later, the two men became friends and collaborated with George Chapman in writing Eastward Ho! (1605). Marston ended his literary career c.1607, and two years later he took holy orders.

Bibliography

See his plays ed. by H. H. Wood (3 vol., 1934–39); his poems ed. by A. Davenport (1961); study by P. J. Finckelpearl (1969).

Marston, John

(born Oct. 7, 1576, Oxfordshire, Eng.—died June 25, 1634, London) English dramatist. He began his literary career as a poet in 1598 but soon turned to writing for the theatre. One of the most vigorous satirists of his era, he wrote all his plays before taking holy orders in 1609. His best-known work is the tragicomedy The Malcontent (1604), which rails at the iniquities of a lascivious court. Also notable is The Dutch Courtezan (produced 1603–04), one of the cleverest comedies of its time. Though he satirized and feuded with Ben Jonson, the two collaborated on Eastward Hoe (1605; with George Chapman) and Love's Martyr (1607).