Thomas Kyd was a prominent English playwright who played a pivotal role in the development of drama during the Elizabethan Era. Kyd is most famous today for writing The Spanish Tragedy, a very influential play that helped establish the revenge play genre.

The Spanish Tragedy was written in the late 16th century and is believed to have influenced Shakespeare's Hamlet as it also includes a vengeful ghost. The action centers around a political rivalry that leads to many murders and a promise for revenge.