Philip Massinger - The Bondman: "He is not valiant that dares die, but he that boldly bears calamity."

The life of Philip Massinger reveals a journey marked by struggle and resilience. Baptized in 1583, he faced financial hardships after his father's death and sought to establish himself as a playwright in London. Despite early challenges, including poverty and the need for advance payments, he eventually collaborated with notable figures like Thomas Dekker and John Fletcher, writing for the King's Men. His later works reflect a persistent battle for recognition amid political undertones. Massinger's sudden death in 1640 left him remembered as a significant, yet underappreciated, dramatist of his time.