Aphra Behn Books

I had a large order, and this came first. It shipped freaky fast, in good condition. I recommend this seller!

This is a classic story about the horrors of slavery. I've heard this compared to "Uncle Tom's Cabin," but I don't think that's an accurate comparison. The story is about Orookono, an African prince who is deprived of his true love by his grandfather, the king. He is betrayed and sold into slavery, and happens to encounter his lost love in the New World, in the British colony of Suriname. The valiant prince (now called 'Caesar' by his overseers) tries to gain freedom for his wife and family, but in vain. If there is a story that does justice to the horrors of slavery, this is it.

I don't think this is the typical slave narrative because Orookono is a prince. Even the overlords treat him that way, and he seems more a victim of cruel fate than of slavery. Still, this valiant, brave-hearted soul is subjected and finally overcome by the cruel actions of the English colonists.

This story was written at the time the novel was first coming into being in England. It is revolutionary, and becomes even more so when considered that it came from the pen of a woman. Aphra Behn was one of the first major female English writers, and is arguably the best of her time. This is is great (short) novel, definitely well-worth your time.

This book was required reading for my American Literature course. Why read a story about an African prince in Surinam in an American Lit class? Voyage to a brave new world! That was the theme of the class. It encompassed the whole colonial experience in all of the "Americas". I am glad my professor went that route or I probably would never have read OROONOKO. This is a wonderful read. It is more a love story to me than a slave story. This book was written centuries ago but it is a very easy read. The footnotes in this version are a great help but the context of the story is enough for most readers to not get lost in archaic language. Add this one to your library. It is definitely worth it.

THIS BOOK IS WONDERFUL IF YOU REALLY WANT TO LEARN MORE ABOUT SLAVERY.

Behn scholars, take heart! Here is a solid and enjoyable introduction to, and examination of, Aphra Behn's writings. Susan Wiseman concentrates on the author's work, looking at prose, poetry and drama and giving each equal weight. She also provides historical and political context where appropriate, and keeps any biographical speculation -- so tempting with the elusive Mrs. Behn -- to a minimum. This is an indispensable resource for any serious student of Aphra Behn's work

The Lucky Chance is a Restoration comedy which has been underperformed for over 250 years. Its author, Aphra Behn (1640-1689), the first professional woman playwright, was a prolific writer who enjoyed great acclaim in her own lifetime, but whose work has been neglected since the eighteenth century. The Lucky Chance is a hugely comic play which deals in clandestine affairs, infidelities, love and marriage.
--- from book's back cover

Molly Brown writes well in whatever genre she turns her hand to. Here she brilliantly captures the sparkle and coarseness of Restoration England in an engaging page-turner of a book. Nell and Aphra are delightful heroines, & the cameos by various historic characters are much fun.

The choice of Aphra Behn as protagonist in this 17th century mystery was intriguing. A classic unconventional, independent, rebellious historical figure augured well for a new detective. Unfortunately neither the character of the protagonist nor those of the million or so other characters are drawn well enough for the reader to care the least bit about what happened to them. Well-known Londoners of the time, Samual Pepys for instance, are dragged in to a quick sketch, then left.

The plot is contrived, but by the time I came to the denoument I no longer cared. And this is all too bad because the writer has a nice wit and a good turn of phrase. I'd like to see this writer try something a little less ambitious.

Invitation To A Funeral is one of the most enjoyable books I've read in a long time. It's fast-moving and funny, with as lively and witty a group of characters as any reader could wish for. But fun as it is, there is a much harder edge to this book than you find in the traditional historical cozy. The book is not as light as it appears at first glance; there is an element of gritty realism here, that to my mind, makes the book as a whole a much more satisfying experience. All in all, I recommend Invitation To A Funeral to anyone who is interested in a rollicking read with wonderful characterization and a great sense of fun. I'm looking forward to the sequel!

What makes this Historical Mystery story such a great read is the careful deliniation of characters as well as the absolutely accurate feel to the setting in time and place, in all it's splendor and squalor. It reminds me of the Brother Cadfael series in that respect. Aphra Behn, real life former spy turned playwright, is a pefect choice for a heroine. Also, 17th centruy England was full of enough intrigue to funish the plots to several books, which is a fervent hope of this reader and not a criticism. My only quibble with the book, and it is a minor one, is that it seemed a little thin in some places and that the ending was a little abrupt, (except that it is a perfect set up for a sequel). This is not to say that the book is dissappointing, just that the world Molly Brown brought to life was so compelling, that I wanted to spend more time in it.

While the Restoration London of 1676 is full of paranoia about French, Dutch and Catholic spies infiltrating Whitehall, the heroine of Molly Brown's "Invitation to a Funeral" seems far away from all that.

When first we meet Aphra Behn, she is waking with her head aching and mouth dry from a night's revelry. The playwright is broke after her last play flopped, and her new play must run at least three days for her to make any money on it. To make matters worse, the Earl of Rochester managed to cast his mistress in the lead, despite her obvious lack of talent, as part of a bet that Aphra can turn her into London's best actress.

When a man who befriended her many years ago is found dead, she arranges for his funeral to repay an old debt. But her innocent act has drawn the attention of some mysterious figures, including the head of the king's secret service.

"Invitation to a Funeral" is full of Restoration figures, noble and common: King Charles II, his competing mistresses such as the actress Nell Gwyn and the Duchess of Portsmouth (nicknamed "Squintabella" by Nell), and the carousing Earl of Rochester. Those who know the era will recognize some of the incidents Brown uses for her own devices.

Aphra Behn stands out among the general run of amateur detectives for her refusal to act like one. She is not Jessica Fletcher teleported to the 17th century, just a single working girl trying to keep body and soul together while working in a profession which most people of the time considered one step removed from prostitution. What with shepherding her play to the stage, dealing with Rochester's mistress, running deeper into debt and avoiding her debtors (as well as an ex-lover attempting to win her back), she doesn't have time to play detective. How she manages to get into serious trouble anyway makes "Invitation to a Funeral" a pleasurable jaunt back to another historical era.

Aphra Behn was a female poet who is barely remembered today. A contemporary of Shakespeare and Marlowe. Reasonably well known in her time. Which was quite an achievement in the 1600s.

Stapleton tries to bring Behn's works back from the shades, to greater appreciation by us. He presents detailed critical analysis of the works, and compares them favourably to others by her male contemporaries. He assumes that you are already mostly familiar with her poems, and that you have access to them. The book is an analysis, not an anthology.

Aphra Behn's Love Letters Between a Nobleman and His Sister reveals the progress of the consciousness of the once innocent and naive Sylvia, who, after being seduced into an affair with her brother-in-law, Philander, learns of her own sexuality and desires.

Behn's novel is not only an exploration of the sexual politics of the socety in which she lived in, but also, an examination of the notions of gender and identity. The exchange of love letters between Sylvia and Philander allows readers to sense the intimacy between the two couple, but most importanly, it allows readers to follow the transformantion of Sylvia's identity from lady to whore. Behn conveys the double standard that exists in her society, and perhaps our society as well. Philander, after his lover affair and scandal is still a lord, but unfortunately for Sylvia, once 'undone' is no longer a lady.

This book was useful in helping me understand the sexual politics of seventeenth-century English society.

Aphra Behn--poet, playwright, novelist, spy--was no ordinary woman of the Restoration. A commoner who mingled with the royals and shocked society with her bawdy language; at once a feminist, an abolitionist and a Tory; she's a figure of intrigue whose life remains largely unknown but commands our curiosity. Janet Todd's thorough, lively, and scholarly biography does her justice; her book carefully documents Behn's life without diminishing her mystique. If you care anything at all about verbal swordplay, clever storytelling, or listening to what women's voices have to say about our history, you must read Behn--and once you have, you'll be compelled to read Todd, as well.

iv just finished reading this book as part of my ou literature course,if you want an easy read go elsewhere, however if your pretty inteligent and you really want to learn about shakespeare and aprha behn then this is the right book.
beware reading this could change your life.

As the first novel written in the English language, Oroonoko holds a special place in our heritage of literature. That it was written by a woman is an even greater accomplishment. The story follows the stream of consciousness of its author, and often skips around in time. There was no editor for this hand written novel, and to a modern audience that can be confusing. Oroonoko is not a tidy book, but it is an amazing book.
Oroonoko is a true romance. The slave-prince, Oroonoko, is a hero, and his main quest is to find the love of his life, Imoinda. After many adventures on his own continent, Oroonoko is swept away to the Caribbean where he is miraculously reunited with Imoinda. From there he continues his nearly unstoppable heroism: he fights immortal tigers, leads an army of slaves against the slavery he sent them into, and faces everything that comes his way with unwavering bravery. The romantic notions of the young narrator further elevate Oroonoko into the status of a man above men; a form of renaissance superhero.
While many claim that the book is distinctly anti-slavery, the true feelings of the narrator and the times are difficult to unravel. They are certainly against the enslavement of this "young Mars" and his "beautiful black Venus" (Behn) but as for the rest of the slaves... Well, you be the judge.

Young Oroonoko, a Prince of Surinam, falls in love with a beautiful young maid named Imoinda. but unbeknownst to Oroonoko, his grandfather the King also has designs on the young maid. While the Prince is away, the King sends his vail to Imoinda, a sign that he wants to bed her. She reluctantly goes and staves off all his advances, professing her love for Oroonoko.

Upon his return, Oroonoko learns what happened to his love and finds her at the King's seraglio. they share a night together, but when the King finds out, he sells Imoinda as a slave, telling Oronooko that she died.

Despondent, Oroonoko is tricked by a British captain and becomes a slave. Taken to a new land, he accidently discovers his true love Imoinda and determines to escape the bonds of slavery no matter what it takes.

This story deals with true love and is probably one of the first novels to deal with the issue of slavery -- even though it wasn't a hotbed issue during the 1680's. The characters are very well-defined, either incredibly good or monstrous, even though they sometimes act more over-the-top or overly dramatic than normal. Oroonoko himself is even based upon a real prince that Behn had met from Surinam. It does take a bit to get used to the lingo and word usage of the 17th century, but I found myself seriously enjoying the story.

Man, all I have to say is Fredrick Douglas wins. Oroonoko is a conceited noble. He is oblivious to all that is really around him. He only sees what he wants to see. What a cause to die for. Let me tell ya.

At first glance you would believe this book to be one about racism. However, if you look deeper you will find many lessons entwined among the pages. I found this story to depict the value of education and that "book smart" is only half of the learning process. One must also obtain "street smarts." Oronooko relied on tutors ending in slavery and death. Frederick Douglass, on the other hand, was a slave with a commitment to learn to free himself. The only one to teach him was his desire to learn. And guess who wins. Read it and see what you learn!

This book is two great stories in one. It'd make a great movie.

Oroonoko is an African prince, in love with the beautiful Imoinda. When his elderly, impotent and slovenly uncle the king takes her into his harem, we get a nice Romeo and Juliet scenario that ends with Oroonoko thinking his lover is dead.

Later, the mighty prince is tricked by a sea captain and taken into bondage. He is sold into slavery in South America, where even his owners recognize his majesty. There he discovers his lost love, and something about the nature of bondage.

An compelling look at the nature of bondage, slavery, the human condition, European customs, love and passion, and honor. Especially intriguin because it was written in the 17th century, when slavery wasn't even a disputed practice.

The author is of note as well; Aphra Behn was the first woman to make a living as a writer. And she knows that her perspective is unique, and uses it to add to the story. How does the narrator really feel about this handsome African prince?

Pick it up. It's worthwhile.

Recently introduced to the works of Aphra Behn, I found this collection to be an excellently laid out edition of some of her plays. The print is friendly to the eye (many collections of Restoration drama are not) and easy to read. I can only speak for "The Rover", as I have not had the time to read the rest of the plays. However, I found the notes and the forewards to the plays to be informative and easy to follow. It must be said that the notes were contained in the back of the book, as opposed to the bottom of the page; that was a bit of an irritant, especially when reading a crucial scene. On the whole however, I give this book a thumbs up!

The text is fabulous. Providing access to an underappreciated female writer is desperately needed. The modernized spelling is wonderfully accessible. But using endnotes rather than footnotes to explain all unusual words, references, etc. is unbelievably frustrating. And not even endnotes after each play - endnotes at the end of the book! I am dizzy from flipping back and forth several times each page to the end of the book.