Product Description
When Prince Oroonoko’s passion for the virtuous Imoinda arouses the jealousy of his grandfather, the lovers are cast into slavery and transported from Africa to the colony of Surinam. Oroonoko’s noble bearing soon wins the respect of his English captors, but his struggle for freedom brings about his destruction. Inspired by Aphra Behn’s visit to Surinam, Oroonoko reflects the author’s romantic views of native peoples as being in "the first state of innocence, before man knew how to sin." The novel also reveals Behn’s ambiguous attitude toward slavery: while she favored it as a means to strengthen England’s power, her powerful and moving work conveys its injustice and brutality. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (5)

Excellent introduction
While I enjoyed the story, I must admit that I enjoyed reading the introduction and footnotes even more. They were very interesting and enlightening, and the introduction creates an awe inspiring portrait of Aphra Behn, and what a diamond in the rough she was during the Restoration period of English history.

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

A Brave New World
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.

Very moving
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.

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

Amazon.com Review
Because of her sensuous writing in the 17th century, wild andwonderful Aphra Behn has been a notorious figure in history. JanetTodd's new biography elaborates on the mysterious Behn and reveals herto be a complex contradiction. Her politics were High Tory, but herlanguage was considered indecent for a woman of her times. She foughtagainst the restraints of a patriarchal world, yet depended upon maleapproval. She was a lover of the easy life, but risked her life as aspy for England. Todd brings new documents from Holland and England tolight, as well as discussions of Behn's entire works, in order topresent this in-depth study of a most remarkable writer. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (1)

One volume, two rare women
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 commandsour curiosity. Janet Todd's thorough, lively, and scholarly biography doesher justice; her book carefully documents Behn's life without diminishingher mystique. If you care anything at all about verbal swordplay, cleverstorytelling, or listening to what women's voices have to say about ourhistory, you must read Behn--and once you have, you'll be compelled to readTodd, as well. ... Read more

Product Description
This is an EXACT reproduction of a book published before 1923. This IS NOT an OCR'd book with strange characters, introduced typographical errors, and jumbled words.This book may have occasional imperfections such as missing or blurred pages, poor pictures, errant marks, etc. that were either part of the original artifact, or were introduced by the scanning process. We believe this work is culturally important, and despite the imperfections, have elected to bring it back into print as part of our continuing commitment to the preservation of printed works worldwide. We appreciate your understanding of the imperfections in the preservation process, and hope you enjoy this valuable book. ... Read more

Product Description
Aphra Behn (1640-89) was both successful and controversial in her own lifetime; her achievements are now recognized less equivocally and her plays, often revived, demonstrate wit, compassion and remarkable range.This edition brings together her most important comedies in a single volume: The Rover, her best-known play; The Feigned Courtesans, a lively comedy of intrigue; The Lucky Chance, a comedy with a bitter edge, which takes a satirical look at marriage customs; and the dazzling and popular farce, The Emperor of the Moon.All the plays have been newly edited and are presented with modernized spelling and punctuation. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (2)

Great text, frustrating format.
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.

Well-laid out text, excellent foreward
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) andeasy to read. I can only speak for "The Rover", as I have not hadthe time to read the rest of the plays. However, I found the notes and theforewards to the plays to be informative and easy to follow. It must besaid that the notes were contained in the back of the book, as opposed tothe bottom of the page; that was a bit of an irritant, especially whenreading a crucial scene. On the whole however, I give this book a thumbsup! ... Read more

Product Description
When Prince Oroonoko's passion for the virtuous Imoinda arouses the jealousy of his grandfather, the lovers are cast into slavery and transported from Africa to the colony of Surinam. Oroonoko's noble bearing soon wins the respect of his English captors, but his struggle for freedom brings about his destruction. Inspired by Aphra Behn's visit to Surinam, Oroonoko (1688) reflects the author's romantic view of Native Americans as simple, superior peoples 'in the first state of innocence, before men knew how to sin'. The novel also reveals Behn's ambiguous attitude to African slavery - while she favoured it as a means to strengthen England's power, her powerful and moving work conveys its injustice and brutality. ... Read more

Product Description
Born in 1640, Aphra Behn was a spy, poet, dramatist of the Restoration theater, and author of Oroonoko, one of the most popular novels of the time. "A marvelous achievement of logical investigation and imaginative intelligence."
--Spectator.

... Read more

Product Description
A charming and witty volume of instruction for the aspiring lover, detailing hour by hour the correct way to spend a day apart.

As a beautiful and sought–after woman, Iris is well aware of the hours of reflection and sighing due to her—and of the dangers and temptations that await a man whose lover is absent. Thus, the hour between eight and nine, before Damon is enjoined to rise, may be spent in “Agreeable Reverie,” of which the principle subject would be, of course, Iris, while five o’clock is the hour of “Dangerous Visits,” when Damon will be prey to the wiles and machinations of his female acquaintances. Interspersed with exquisite—and instructive—verse, The Lover’s Watch is an ironic, sharp–witted observation of the universal manners of love as well as an invaluable manual for all eager suitors. Proto–feminist Aphra Behn (1640­89) was the first female professional writer in the English language; the author of many plays, she also wrote the highly regarded philosophical novel Oroonoko. ... Read more

Product Description
Oroonoko is a short novel by Aphra Behn (June 10, 1640 - April 16, 1689), published in 1688, concerning the love of its hero, an enslaved African in Surinam in the 1660s, and the author's own experiences in the new South American colony. It is generally claimed (most famously by Virginia Woolf) that Aphra Behn was the first professional female author in English, living entirely by her own earnings. While this is not entirely true, Behn was the first professional female dramatist, as well as one of the first English novelists, male or female. The novel concerns Oroonoko, the grandson of an African king, who falls in love with Imoinda, the daughter of that king's top general. Oroonoko is now the most studied of Aphra Behn's novels. ... Read more

Product Description
Sir Timothy Tawdrey is by the wishes of his mother and the lady's father designed for Celinda, who loves Bellmour, nephew to Lord Plotwell. ... Read more

Product Description
WITS, like Physicians, never can agree, When of a different Society; And Rabel's Drops were never more cry'd down By all the Learned Doctors of the Town, Than a new Play, whose author is unknown: Nor can those Doctors with more Malice sue (And powerful Purses) the dissenting Few, Than those with an insulting Pride do rail At all who are not of their own Cabal.If a Young Poet hit your Humour right, You judge him then out of Revenge and Spite; So amongst Men there are ridiculous Elves, Who Monkeys hate for being too like themselves: So that the Reason of the Grand Debate, Why Wit so oft is damn'd, when good Plays take, Is, that you censure as you love or hate. Thus, like a learned Conclave, Poets sit Catholick Judges both of Sense and Wit, And damn or save, as they themselves think fit. Yet those who to others Faults are so severe, Are not so perfect, but themselves may err. Some write correct indeed, but then the whole (Bating their own dull Stuff i'th' Play) is stole: As Bees do suck from Flowers their Honey-dew, So they rob others, striving to please you.Some write their Characters genteel and fine, But then they do so toil for every Line, That what to you does easy seem, and plain, Is the hard issue of their labouring Brain. And some th' Effects of all their Pains we see, Is but to mimick good Extempore. Others by long Converse about the Town, Have Wit enough to write a leud Lampoon, But their chief Skill lies in a Baudy Song. In short, the only Wit that's now in Fashion Is but the Gleanings of good Conversation. As for the Author of this coming Play, I ask'd him what he thought fit I should say, In thanks for your good Company to day: He call'd me Fool, and said it was well known, You came not here for our sakes, but your own. New Plays are stuffed with Wits, and with Debauches, That croud and sweat like Cits in May-day Coaches. ... Read more

Product Description
Traditionally known as the first professional woman writer in English, Aphra Behn (1640-1689) has now emerged as one of the major figures of the Restoration, providing more plays for the stage than any other author and greatly influencing the development of the novel. Behn's work straddles the genres of drama, fiction, poetry and translation. With its full bibliography, detailed chronology and a description of the known facts of her life, this Companion is essential to studying her work. ... Read more

Product Description
Tis true, I was never a Lover yet -- but I begin to have a shreud Guess, what 'tis to be so, and fancy it very pretty to sigh, and sing, and blush and wish, and dream and wish, and long and wish to see the Man; and when I do, look pale and tremble; just as you did when my Brother brought home the fine English Colonel to see you -- what do you call him? Don Belvile. ... Read more

Product Description
The book has no illustrations or index. Purchasers are entitled to a free trial membership in the General Books Club where they can select from more than a million books without charge. Subjects: Fiction / Classics; Fiction / Literary; Literary Collections / General; Literary Collections / English, Irish, Scottish, Welsh; Literary Criticism / General; Literary Criticism / American / General; Literary Criticism / European / English, Irish, Scottish, Welsh; ... Read more

Customer Reviews (2)

Have a barf bag ready
The 'sister' in the title is actually a sister-in-law. During the Huguenot wars in France (the late 1500s), Philander married Myrtilla and then ran off with her sister Sylvia. These letters are between Philander and Sylvia, and at first they are thoroughly nauseating. They're loaded with trembling sighs and heaving bosoms and anguished glances, and frequent uses of Oh! and Alas!This goes on for hours. Things improve in the second half of the book, as the previous reviewer describes. I recommend doing a lot of skimming until you notice the exclamation points reducing in frequency, and then the characters start to mature a little.

sexuality and desire
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 anexploration of the sexual politics of the socety in which she lived in, butalso, an examination of the notions of gender and identity. The exchange oflove letters between Sylvia and Philander allows readers to sense theintimacy between the two couple, but most importanly, it allows readers tofollow the transformantion of Sylvia's identity from lady to whore.Behnconveys the double standard that exists in her society, and perhaps oursociety as well.Philander, after his lover affair and scandal is still alord, but unfortunately for Sylvia, once 'undone' is no longer a lady.

This book was useful in helping me understand the sexual politics ofseventeenth-century Englishsociety. ... Read more

Product Description
Callis: What, go in masquerade?what would you do there? Hellena: That which all the world doesbe as mad as the rest and take all innocent freedoms. Aphra Behn was the first female professional writer in England and the most prolific playwright of the late 17th century, after Dryden. The Rover, her most popular play, is set in Naples during the misrule of carnival time, when prohibitions are temporarily removed, privileges and rank suspended, and women, from convent girls to courtesans, take the initiative. Behn has been credited with creating more daring dialogue between the sexes than many of her male contemporaries. The Rover explores issues of love, trickery and deception, forced marriage, male power, fidelity and the excesses of sexual passion. This student edition contains a lengthy Introduction with background on the author, date and sources, theme, critical interpretation and stage history. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (1)

The Rover
Virginia Woolf said that all women together should let flowers fall upon the tomb of Aphra Behn - for it was she who earned them the right to speak their minds - well, within the Rover, her sexual politics are personifiedthrough the character of Angelica Bianca : and it makes for an intriguingread!Brandishing swords, embracing rape and finding their own individualidentities in a society that veiwed women as second class subject, thisremained the most frequently performed play right up until 1800! ... Read more

Product Description
This annotated bibliography constitutes a thoroughly revised and more easily readable study of Behn's publications, of those edited or translated by her, of publications that included her works, and of writings ascribed to her, along with an annotated bibliography of over 1600 works about her from 1671 to 2001, with an unannotated update covering 2002. The augmented primary bibliography describes all known editions and issues of her works to 1702, and adds a catalogue of editions to 2002, including on-line sources. The secondary bibliography adds close to 1000 items published since 1984 to the original 600 of the first edition along with about 175 more from 1671 to 1984, with attention to materials not in English. New appendices include a list of dedicatees, actors, recent productions (with reviews), and provenances. This volume will be invaluable for book dealers, collectors and librarians, as well as students and scholars of Aphra Behn and of Restoration literature. ... Read more