A fascinating exploration of the early modern authors who helped to shape Shakespeare's beloved plays.Shakespeare's plays have influenced generations of writers, but who were the early modern playwrights who influenced him?Using the latest techniques in textual analysis, Darren Freebury-Jones offers a fresh look at William Shakespeare and reveals the influence of a community of playwrights that shaped his work. He makes a compelling case that we need to see early modern drama as a communal enterprise, with playwrights borrowing from and adapting one another's work.From John Lyly's wit to the collaborative genius of John Fletcher, to Christopher Marlowe and Ben Jonson, Shakespeare's borrowed feathers offers fresh insights into Shakespeare's artistic development and shows us new ways of looking at the masterpieces that have enchanted audiences for centuries.