Thomas Nashe

Thomas Nashe (1567-1601) was a satirical Elizabethan writer of poetry, pamphlets, and dramatic works. 

Nashe was born to William and Margaret Nashe in Lowestoft, England in November 1567. His father joined the church of West Harling when Nashe was seven, causing his family to move. At fourteen, Nashe joined St. John’s College of Cambridge University, and got his bachelor’s in 1586. Nashe left the college possibly because of his father’s death, or because he was expelled for taking part in the play “Terminus et non terminus.”  

After college, Nashe found work in London, 1588, with writers Christopher Marlowe and Robert Greene, and printers John Danter and Richard Jones. In 1589, he wrote the preface to Robert Greene’s Menaphon, as well as The Anatomie of Absurdity. During the Marprelate Controversy in 1589-1590, Nashe was the churches hired gun who defended their practices against critics under the pseudonym Martin. In the following years Nashe fought the literary community, mostly the Harvey brothers, through his writings. “Isle of the Dogs” was co-authored by Nashe in 1597 with Ben Johnson, which caused Bens imprisonment, and Nashe to flee to Yarmouth. He published few works after, and died in 1601. 

 

Author: O’Brien, Justin  
Editor: Rivelli, Andrew 
(Stonehill College)
Nashe, Thomas