Greene Robert

Greene, Robert (1560-92), an English dramatist, born at Norwich, was educated at St. John's Coliege, Cambridge. After travelling in Spain and Italy he settled in London as a playwright, and shares with Marlowe the honour of laying the foundations of the English romantic drama. His best play was the comedy of Friar Bacon and Friar Bungay, first acted in 1592. His romances - from one of which, Pandosto (1588), Shakespeare derived the plot of the Winter's Tale - are generally dull and tedious, but they contain many beautiful lyrics. In his Groats Worth of Wit bought with a Million of Repentance, published after his death by Henry Chettle, he attacked Marlowe and Shakespeare.

Greene led a dissipated life, and died from the effects of a debauch. After his death appeared The Repentance of Robert Greene, in which he laments his own folly and vices.