John Fletcher English poet, playwright Country: Great Britain

John Fletcher - Biography

John Fletcher (1579-1625) was an English poet and playwright, known for his works in both comedy and tragedy. He was born in Rye, Sussex to Richard Fletcher, who served as a bishop in Bristol, Worcester, and London. The exact date when Fletcher started writing plays is unclear, but his hand can be recognized in five scenes of Francis Beaumont's comedy "The Woman Hater" (1607). Thus, his own comedy "The Woman's Prize, or The Tamer Tamed" (a continuation of Shakespeare's "The Taming of the Shrew") is dated to 1604.

One of Fletcher's early plays, the pastoral tragicomedy "The Faithful Shepherdess" (1608-1609), is particularly famous. From around 1606 to 1613, Fletcher collaborated with Francis Beaumont, and together they were considered among the best playwrights in London. In 1613, Fletcher presumably worked with Shakespeare on his final two plays, "Henry VIII" and "The Two Noble Kinsmen." After Shakespeare's retirement, Fletcher took his place as the leading playwright of the King's Men, the best theater company in London.

The last years of Fletcher's life were exceptionally productive. He wrote dozens of plays either on his own or in collaboration with other playwrights, which were highly successful during his time and remained significant in later periods. Among the 15 plays he wrote independently are comedies such as "The Chances" (circa 1625), "Monsieur Thomas" (circa 1624), "Rule a Wife and Have a Wife" (1624), and "The Wild Goose Chase" (1621); tragedies like "Bonduca" (1613) and "Valentinian" (1614); and tragicomedies including "The Mad Lover" (circa 1616), "The Loyal Subject" (1618), "The Island Princess" (1621), "The Humorous Lieutenant" (1619), "Women Pleased" (1620), and "A Wife for a Month" (1624).

Fletcher collaborated most frequently with Philip Massinger. Their joint works include tragedies such as "The False One" (circa 1620) and "Sir John van Olden Barnavelt" (1619), as well as tragicomedies like "The Custom of the Country" (circa 1620), "The Double Marriage" (circa 1620), "The Prophetess" (circa 1622), and "The Sea Voyage" (circa 1622). They also co-authored comedies like "The Little French Lawyer" (circa 1619) and "The Spanish Curate" (circa 1622). Fletcher collaborated with Nathan Field (1587-1620) on three tragicomedies: "The Honest Man's Fortune" (1613), "The Knight of Malta" (circa 1618), and "The Queen of Corinth" (circa 1617). He also worked with William Rowley on "The Maid in the Mill" (circa 1623), and with Massinger, Webster, and Ford (the latter likely invited as a collaborator after Fletcher's death) on "The Fair Maid of the Inn" (1626). Fletcher, Massinger, and possibly Ben Jonson and John Chapman also collaborated on "The Tragedy of Rollo, Duke of Normandy" (circa 1625).

Fletcher was a master of tragicomedy. His primary strength in this genre lay in his complex plot constructions and skillful character portrayal. He excelled at creating impactful phrases and clever plot twists. His love for linguistic fireworks was well-suited for witty exchanges between refined gentlemen and ladies engaged in amorous tournaments. Although his talent for drama was less pronounced, Fletcher's comedies showcased his comedic prowess and inventiveness in creating humorous situations. Overall, his works had a significant influence on his contemporaries and subsequent generations of playwrights.