John Webster

Little is known for certain about his life, but he was an English dramatist of the Jacobean period, born in London around 1580 and active in the early 17th century. He wrote during the rich, competitive theater world that also included Shakespeare and his contemporaries.

He is remembered above all for The White Devil and The Duchess of Malfi, plays widely regarded as among the greatest tragedies of their age. His drama is known for its powerful language, unsettling violence, and sharp interest in corruption, ambition, and the pressures placed on women within rigid social systems.

Webster also worked with other playwrights, as was common in his time, but his reputation rests on the singular darkness and emotional force of his major tragedies. Because so few biographical details survive, his plays remain the clearest window into his imagination and lasting influence.