Thomas Dekker

Little is known about Thomas Dekker's life but he is believed to have been born c.1572. His surname suggests he was born into a family of Dutch descent and there were many Dutch immigrants living in London at this time. He began to earn a living as a playwright in the mid-1590s and became a prolific dramatist and pamphleteer. He is listed as a playwright for the Admiral's men, Philip Henslowe's renowned acting company, in 1598. Over the next four years, he collaborated with other playwrights to produce around 40 plays for the company. Dekker’s is believed to have written around 9 plays by himself, the best-known of which are The Shoemakers Holiday (1600) and The Honest Whore, Part 2 (1630). However, much of his work is now lost.

Dekker had a lifelong problem with debt and, after a brief period in prison in 1599, he was again imprisoned in 1612 for seven years due to a debt to the father of fellow playwright, John Webster.

In addition to his plays, Dekker wrote popular pamphlets throughout his entire career (continuing while in prison) depicting vivid account of life in Jacobean London.