The Cambridge Companion to Aphra Behn

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.

Traditionally known as the first professional woman writer in English, Aphra Behn has now emerged as one of the major figures of the Restoration. She provided more plays for the stage than any other author and greatly influenced the development of the novel with her ground-breaking fiction, especially Love-Letters between a Nobleman and his Sister and Oroonoko, the first English novel set in America. Behn's work straddles the genres: beside drama and fiction, she also excelled in poetry and she made several important translations from French libertine and scientific works. This Companion discusses and introduces her writings in all these fields and provides the critical tools with which to judge their aesthetic and historical importance. It also includes a full bibliography, a detailed chronology and a description of the known facts of her life. The Companion will be an essential tool for the study of this increasingly important writer and thinker.

Chronology Mary Ann O'Donnell; 1. Aphra Behn: the documentary record Mary Ann O'Donnell; 2. Behn, women and society Susan Staves; 3. Aphra Behn and the Restoration theatre Derek Hughes; 4. The political poetry of Aphra Behn Melinda S. Zook; 5. Behn's dramatic response to Restoration politics Susan J. Owen; 6. Tragedy and tragicomedy Janet Todd and Derek Hughes; 7. Behn and the unstable traditions of social comedy Robert Markley; 8. The Cavalier myth in The Rover Helen M. Burke; 9. 'The Story of the heart': Love-Letters between a Nobleman and his Sister Ros Ballaster; 10. Oroonoko: reception, ideology, and narrative strategy Laura J. Rosenthal; 11. 'Others', slaves and colonists in Oroonoko Joanna Lipking; 12. The short fiction (excluding Oroonoko) Jacqueline Pearson; 13. Pastoral and Lyric: Astrea in Arcadia Jessica Munns; 14. Aphra Behn's French translations Line Cottegnies; Further reading.

Traditionally known as the first professional woman writer in English, Aphra Behn has now emerged as one of the major figures in Restoration literature. With its full bibliography, detailed chronology and biographical information, this 2004 Companion will be an essential tool for the study of this increasingly important writer and thinker.

Derek Hughes is Professor of English and Comparative Literary Studies at the University of Warwick.
Janet Todd is Francis Hutcheson Professor of English Literature at the University of Glasgow.