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Thomas Kyd

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Playwright

The Resume

    (November 3, 1558-August 1594)
    Born in London, United Kingdom
    Wrote 'The Spanish Tragedy' (published 1592) and 'Cornelia' (1593)
    Credited by some Elizabethan scholars with writing the anonymously published plays 'Arden of Feversham' (1592), 'King Leir' (1594) and 'Edward III' (1596)

Why he might be annoying:

    He rivalled Shakespeare in his heyday, but has fallen into obscurity.
    His second most famous play, after 'The Spanish Tragedy,' is the 'Ur-Hamlet,' a pre-Shakespearean version of 'Hamlet' that has been lost to history.
    He was arrested on suspicion of posting 'lewd and mutinous libels' around London (1593).
    When his lodgings were searched, Arianist literature was found, and he fingered Christopher Marlowe as the source.
    Because of the arrest and suspicions of atheism, he lost his job as a nobleman's private secretary and died in debt a year later.

Why he might not be annoying:

    He was described by Elizabethan author Francis Meres as 'our best for tragedy.'
    'The Spanish Tragedy' was the most popular play in England for over half a century and popularized the genre of the revenge tragedy.
    Several elements from 'The Spanish Tragedy,' such as ghost bent on vengence and use of a play-within-the-play to trap a murderer, were used by Shakespeare in 'Hamlet.'
    He was probably tortured before ratting out Marlowe.

Credit: C. Fishel


Featured in the following Annoying Collections:

Year In Review:

    In 2023, Out of 2 Votes: 0% Annoying
    In 2022, Out of 4 Votes: 0% Annoying
    In 2021, Out of 179 Votes: 63.13% Annoying
    In 2020, Out of 1 Votes: 100% Annoying
    In 2019, Out of 2 Votes: 50.0% Annoying
    In 2018, Out of 2 Votes: 0% Annoying
    In 2017, Out of 2 Votes: 50.0% Annoying
    In 2016, Out of 2 Votes: 100% Annoying
    In 2015, Out of 10 Votes: 50.0% Annoying
    In 2014, Out of 12 Votes: 58.33% Annoying
    In 2013, Out of 12 Votes: 66.67% Annoying
    In 2012, Out of 10 Votes: 70.0% Annoying
    In 2011, Out of 14 Votes: 50.0% Annoying