# Aphra Behn

## Biography

Aphra Behn was an English playwright, poet, prose writer, and translator during the Restoration era, notably becoming one of the first English women to earn her living through writing. Born around 1640, her early life is somewhat obscured, though records suggest her maiden name was Johnson. Before her literary success, Behn embarked on a voyage to Surinam, which later inspired her celebrated novel Oroonoko, and also served as a spy for King Charles II in Antwerp. Returning to London and facing financial hardship, she began her prolific career as a dramatist in 1670 with her first play, The Forc'd Marriage. She went on to write numerous successful plays, including The Rover, along with poetry and other prose works. Her most enduring work, Oroonoko: or, the Royal Slave, published in 1688, is recognized as an early English novel that boldly explored themes of slavery and race. Behn challenged the restrictive societal expectations for women of her time through her work, leaving a significant legacy for subsequent female authors. She passed away in London in 1689.

## Books

- [The Works of Aphra Behn: Volume V](https://samolit.com/books/96755)