Aphra Behn (1640-1689) is one of the most famous women writers, partly because she was one of the earliest women to make a living as a writer, but also because of the controversy surrounding her life and works. Read more about the life and words of Aphra Behn.
1. Aphra Behn's Afterlife
by Jane Spencer. Oxford University Press. From the publisher: "Aphra Behn, now becoming recognized as a major Restoration figure, is especially significant as an early example of a successful professional woman writer: an important and often troubling role-model for later generations of women. This book shows that her influence on eighteenth-century literature was far-reaching."
2. Aphra Behn's English Feminism: Wit and Satire
by Dolors Altaba-Artal. Susquehanna University Press. The wit and satire of Aphra Behn comes through in this book, as Dolors Altaba-Artal explores Behn's contributions as a playwright and novelist in the Restoration period.3. The Theatre of Aphra Behn
by Derek Hughes. Palgrave. From the publisher: "During the 19 years of her play-writing career, Aphra Behn had far more new plays staged than anyone else. This book is the first to examine all her theatrical work. It explains her often dominant place in the complex theatrical culture of Charles II's reign, her divided political sympathies, and her interests as a free-thinking intellectual."4. The Critical Fortunes of Aphra Behn
by Janet M. Todd. Camden House. From the publisher: "This is the first study of the posthumous life of Aphra Behn, the extraordinary vicissitudes of her critical reception, and the personal vilifications of her reputation through three centuries. Beginning with the reception of Behn's work during her lifetime, ... the work ends with the late 20th-century reception of Behn..."5. The Secret Life of Aphra Behn
by Janet M. Todd. Rutgers University Press. From the publisher: "'The Secret Life of Aphra Behn' illuminates the political and social background of the period, the court intrigue, the theatre and its protagonists, London life before and after the Restoration, the Popish Plot, and the Monmouth Rebellion. Behn's relationships with Dryden and Rochester, the Stuart kings, Nell Gwyn... and many others make her story a fascinating combination of literature, politics, sex and intrigue."6. Aphra Behn
by S. J. Wiseman. Northcote House Publishers. Wiseman explores the controversies surrounding the works of Aphra Behn. Read more about Behn's contributions to women's literary history as you discover for about her prolific talents.7. Oroonoko, and Other Writings
by Aphra Behn, and Paul Salzman (Editor). Oxford University Press. From the publisher: "The most complete collection of the work of Aphra Behn (1640-89) available, this volume contains Oroonoko and five other works of fiction ranging from comedy and high melodrama to tragedy. The works included--'The Fair Jilt,' 'Memoirs of the Court of the King of Bantam,' 'The History of the Nun,' 'The Adventure of the Black Lady,' and 'The Unfortunate Bride'--are complemented by her poetry."8. Rover
by Aphra Behn, and Marion Lomax (Editor). W.W. Norton & Company. From the publisher: "The first English woman to earn her living by writing, Aphra Behn combined dramatic genius and training with personal experience that gave her rare insights into manners and roles. A comic satire, The Rover roamed the English stage for a century and has been rediscovered in our own time as a theatrical masterpiece of wit and daring."9. Female Playwrights and Eighteenth-Century Comedy
by Misty G. Anderson. Palgrave. From the publisher: "Aphra Behn, Susannah Centlivre, Hannah Cowley, and Elizabeth Inchbald were the only four women in England who enjoyed career-long success as comicplaywrights from 1670-1800. Their respective approaches to the body, contracts, nationalism, and divorce animate their comedies and provide comic comment on the marriage plot."10. Early Modern Women Poets: An Anthology
by Jane Stevenson (Editor), and Peter Davidson (Editor). Oxford University Press. From the publisher: "'Early Modern Women Poets' represents a complete reexamination of the field, based on extensive archival research in manuscripts and early modern printed books. While it contains lavish selections from important poets such as Aphra Behn, Katherine Philips, and Aemilia Lanyer, almost half of the material included is previously unpublished and uncollected."