Thomas May: Playwright, Translator, and Historian

This thesis purports to offer a comprehensive analysis of the life and works of Thomas May and to propose a fresh outlook on this relatively minor poet. Partly owing to historical reasons beyond his control, May’s contribution to the artistic milieu of Caroline England has been relegated to the margins. The aim of this research is to provide an updated biography of the poet, thereby rectifying some of the mistakes or misconceptions found in previous critical works, integrating well-known facts with new information, and offering a different perspective on some of the commentary written about May throughout the centuries. This thesis thus seeks to provide a portrait of May as exhaustive and objective as possible and to dignify him with the recognition he deserves as an incredibly versatile poet, capable of tackling tragedies, comedies, translations, verse and prose histories, poetry, and original epic works, and as an undeniably important figure in Jacobean and especially Caroline England, both in terms of literary output and political commitment.