Dekker, Thomas c.1570-1632
English dramatist and pamphleteer

He was born in London. Around 1598 he was employed by Philip Henslowe to write plays, and in 1600 published two comedies, The Shoemaker's Holiday, or the Gentle Craft, and The Pleasant Comedy of Old Fortunatus. His most powerful dramatic writing is seen in The Honest Whore (Part I, 1604, written with Thomas Middleton; Part II, written 1605, performed 1630). In 1607 he published three plays written in conjunction with John Webster, the Famous History of Sir Thomas Wyat, Westward Ho! and Northward Ho! These were followed by several other collaborative works: the excellent comedy, The Roaring Girl (1611, with Middleton), the Virgin Martyr (1622, with Philip Massinger), The Sun's Darling (licensed 1624, printed 1656, with John Ford), and a powerful tragedy, The Witch of Edmonton (1623, with Ford and William Rowley). From 1613 to 1616 he was mostly in prison for debt. His pamphlets include The Wonderful Year (1603), which gives a tragicaccount of the plague, and The Bellman of London (1608),a lively account of London vagabonds.

Bibliography: G R Price, Thomas Dekker (1969)