Doctor Faustus (1593) is Marlowe's most famous and frequently performed play. It tells the story of a doctor who sells his soul to the devil in a quest to acquire all human knowledge.

A Dead Man in Deptford (1996), written by Anthony Burgess, is a fictionalized portrayal of Marlowe's life. The book highlights dramatic events such as accusations of murder and espionage that plagued Marlowe during his lifetime. Burgess also delves into the rumors of assassination and political intrigue that surrounded Marlowe.

The Reckoning: The Murder of Christopher Marlowe (1995), by Charles Nicholl, offers a fictionalized account of Marlowe's murder. While it places less focus on Marlowe as a writer, Nicholl excels in reconstructing the world of Elizabethan spies and conspiracies.

The Merchant of Venice, by William Shakespeare, debuted in 1596. This play also deals with themes of betrayal and deceit. However, it stands out because the ending raises numerous questions about the nature of comedy. The play lacks a clear moral resolution, and its plot explores complex issues of prejudice and honesty.

Geoffrey Chaucer's "The Miller's Tale" is a story about greed. In this tale, part of his Canterbury Tales written in 1387, Chaucer uses an old man's greed and lust to expose human vulnerability.

The Cambridge Cultural History: Sixteenth-Century Britain (1992), edited by Boris Ford, offers an accessible history of life in sixteenth-century Britain. It covers cultural and social life, architecture, literature, music, art, and Renaissance gardens.