Aphra Behn revised

I have been revising and proofing the new edition of my Aphra Behn biography to be published in early 2017. It has reminded me again what an absolutely wonderful writer she was. She crosses so many genres and is subtle and witty in all of them. Making many modern feminist points that we can easily recognise, she also challenges many of our easy assumptions about class, gender and politics.

Why is she not better known?? I have just watched the RSC production of her Rover. It was an all singing, all dancing performance that was perhaps more enjoyable than nuanced–very different from the darker production of John Barton many years ago. It was clear the audience relished it. I do wish the major theatrical companies would consider her less known but wonderful theatrical plays: Sir Patient Fancy for example or The City-Heiress, both very powerful pieces.

 

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