Title:Dunstable author claims to be reincarnated 16th century playwright Christopher Marlowe
Headline: Secrets of top writer revealed
Courtesy of: The Dunstable Gazette, 4 October 2006 edition. Written by journalist Dave Burke
A Dunstable author who claims to be a reincarnated 16th century playwright thinks she can shed some light on mysteries that have plagued historians for more than 400 years.
Brenda Harwood has just published a controversial ‘autobiography’ based on memories which she claims are from her life as Christopher Marlowe, who was a close friend of William Shakespeare.
After centuries of intrigue about Marlowe’s life and the strange circumstances of his death, she believes that publishing her book, My Truth, will finally set the record straight. “He wants to get the truth in the open,” said Brenda, 57.
But the book has angered members of the Marlowe Society, who are upset with revelations about the writer’s personal life.
She realised she had a connection with Marlowe while watching a TV programme about Shakespeare in 1978. In a scene depicting Marlowe’s death she shouted: “I didn’t die like that” at the television.
Encouraged by her husband Neville, she set about finding out more about the writer, and was frustrated to read a lot that didn’t ring true with her.
Her research triggered a series of flashbacks, but many of them were contrary to what was written about him. She was especially angry when reading an account of Marlowe’s death in a pub brawl.
“I was reading it and I felt so incensed that I threw it against the wall,” she said.
In her book, written through the eyes of the playwright, Brenda claims he worked as a secret government agent, and made some very powerful enemies.
“He had a lot of guilt about what he knew. He doesn’t try to make himself out as a saint, he made mistakes like us all. By being a secret agent you’ve got to be a certain type of person.”
She doesn’t claim to know everything about him though, as she says her recollections need to be triggered in some way.
“I can’t tell all the answers because 400 years have gone by. If I go somewhere regarding him it all starts to come back.”
And Brenda’s adamant that she shouldn’t be dismissed as an attention seeker. “I didn’t ask for it. It’s not an ego trip, it’s taken a lot out of my life. It’s a karmic thing. I’m not here to say I’m right. People can read the book and whether they believe me or not is their prerogative.”
She also thinks sceptics shouldn’t be all too quick to judge her. “They’re entitled to their opinion. But what I’d like to say is read the book thoroughly several times to understand it,” she said.
She says she can get inside Marlowe’s head by a process known as ‘clicking in’.
“I become Marlowe himself. I talk, but I can’t remember what I say,” Brenda said.
When talking about Marlowe, Brenda has a habit of talking in the first person.
Asked about Shakespeare, she said: ”We were very good friends. He had a great sense of humour. I taught him the blank verse.”
Brenda Harwood will be at Priory House in High Street South, Dunstable, on Saturday (October 7) to sign copies of her book and answer questions from 4pm to 7pm.
Picture Inset reads: Back from dead: Brenda Harwood with a picture of the famous playwright Christopher Marlowe, who was a friend of William Shakespeare.§
