Robert Greene

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The life of Robert Greene, a prominent literary figure of the late 16th century, remains shrouded in mystery. While celebrated for his writing, much of Greene's personal history is speculative, with insights into his character drawn from dubious sources. Despite this, Greene's influence endured, with his name prominently featured in literary works long after his death.

Early Speculations and Education

Robert Greene's origins are the subject of much speculation, with most believing he was born in Norwich, Norfolk, in 1558, to a saddler and his wife. However, these claims are not backed by solid evidence, as the only reference to Norwich as his birthplace appears in the dubious posthumous pamphlet Greene’s Groatsworth of Wit Bought with a Million of Repentance, which may not have even been authored by Greene. He earned his B.A. from St. John’s College, Cambridge, in 1580, supporting the likelihood of this birth year. Greene held a sizar's position at Cambridge, a work-study role that suggests he hailed from a middle-class, artisan family.

Life at Cambridge and Beyond

Little is known about Greene’s life prior to or immediately following his time at Cambridge. Records confirm that he received his baccalaureate and later his M.A. from Clare College in 1583. Although Greene valued his academic accomplishments, as evidenced by his frequent use of "Master of Arts in Both Universities" on his publications, neither he nor his peers left any detailed accounts of his life during this period. Greene's identity and activities beyond writing and publishing remain largely undocumented, with most available biographical information coming from figures like Thomas Nashe, known for his exaggeration, and Gabriel Harvey, known for being even less reliable. Greene's appearance and character were described by Nashe as having "a iolly long red peake, like the spire of a steeple," and being a "good fellowe," though Nashe's accounts are often humorous and not entirely credible.

Controversies and Allegations

Greene's contemporary and critic, Gabriel Harvey, wrote venomously about him, especially after perceiving a slight in Greene's last work, A Quip for an Upstart Courtier (1592). Harvey branded Greene as "a rakehell, a makeshift: a scribbling foole:/ a famous bayard, in City, and Schoole." Harvey further alleged that Greene had a mistress and a son, Fortunatus, who died young, though no evidence validates these claims. Posthumous pamphlets painted a picture of Greene’s life filled with degradation and self-recrimination, echoing the confessions of his literary characters.

Balancing Perspectives

Offering a contrasting viewpoint, poet "R. B."—likely Richard Barnfield—composed Greene’s Funeralls in 1593, depicting him in a more favorable light: "For iudgment Ioue, for Learning deepe, he still Apollo seemde:/ For fluent tongue, for eloquence, men Mercury him deemde." Despite this praise, it adds little to the factual record of Greene’s life. The only concrete detail about Greene’s later years is his death in September 1592, after a lengthy illness, not from the excessive indulgence in rhenish wine and pickled herring as Nashe jested.

Legacy and Influence

The enigma surrounding Greene's life is particularly ironic given his contemporary acclaim as a writer. His name became so synonymous with his work that titles often bore his moniker. Even a decade after his death, "Greene" remained a fixture in the literary world, his name evoking a character that thrived in pamphlets and stories, underscoring the pervasive mystery of his true biography.

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