William's play, published in 1936, depicts the life of Thomas Cranmer, a leader of the English Reformation and Archbishop of Canterbury during the reigns of three successive monarchs. The fantastical element of the story lies in Cranmer's interactions with the character known as The Skeleton, whose purpose and role is uncertain. Charles Williams (1886-1945) was a British theologian, playwright, novelist and poet. As a member of the 'Inklings' literary group at Oxford, his work supported a strong sense of narrative. For Williams, spiritual exchanges were an undercurrent to life, and his literary explorations into Christian fantasy writing, such as 'Descent into Hell' (1937), earned him many followers. This classic work is now being republished in a new modern edition with a specially commissioned introductory biography.