It depicts the life and character of Christopher Marlowe, a renowned playwright of the Elizabethan era.

Reckless but brilliant Cambridge scholar Christopher "Kit" Marlowe is conscripted by Francis Walsingham to be a spy for Queen Elizabeth.

Kit is soon sent to the English college at Rheims to ferret out recusants conspiring against the Queen and her Church of England.

They use this discovery as a means to effect the execution of Elizabeth's rival, Mary, Queen of Scots.

A feature film adaptation was announced in September 2010, starring Sam Riley as Kit and costarring James Purefoy, Ray Winstone, Ed Speleers, and Adam Sinclair in undisclosed roles.