The first edition of Aphra Behn's novel "Oroonoko," published in 1688, was found in a home in Kent. The discovery excites literary historians and fans.
Anna Astin found the first copy of "Oroonoko" in her father's old books. She presented the book at a celebration of Behn, the first paid woman writer in the world, at Canterbury's Beaney House of Art & Knowledge. Elizabethan studies professor Elaine Hobby at Loughborough University said the discovery was the most exciting moment of her work.
The Guianas colonial enslavement of an African prince is the subject of "Oroonoko." Literature and culture were greatly influenced by it.
The book is still studied in colleges worldwide and is a groundbreaking work in the fight against slavery. Only 13 first-print copies of "Oroonoko" are known to exist. They were kept in essential libraries in the UK and US. Astin's copy, which she has kept on her house shelf, is now the 14th known first print.
Astin was surprised that her long-ignored book was now getting so much attention. She was still trying to understand how a book that had been on her shelf for so long could now be so popular.
Justin Croft, an expert on old books and a seller on BBC's "Antiques Roadshow," said the find was tremendously exciting and amazing because the book was still there. Even though Astin's copy does not have a title page, bibliographers will examine it to see if any changes make it stand out.
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Behn was a well-known feminist author in the 1600s. She was born around 1640, but evidence and stories about her life remain a mystery. Many people have different ideas about her parents and how she was raised.
In 1663, she lived in Surinam, significantly impacting her "Oroonoko" writing. After her husband died in 1665, Behn worked as a spy for King Charles II. This job put her in debt and put her in jail for a short time. Once she was free, she started writing. Her first play, "The Forc'd Marriage," set her on the path to becoming a great playwright in 1670.
People liked Behn's poems and prose because they were bold and varied. Her poetic style and interest in current events made people compare her to Sappho and Katherine Philips.
Her writing skills were shown in collections like "Poems upon Several Occasions" (1684) and "Lycidus: Or The Lover in Fashion" (1688). Behn's unique style often looked at love, sex, friendship, and betrayal from the point of view of a woman who went against social rules.
"Oroonoko," her most famous book, is a made-up biography presented as a real story. This was a new way of telling a story at the time. The book was groundbreaking because it showed how horrible slavery was and gave African characters human traits. It was also a strong criticism of colonial practices. Behn was one of the first authors to be able to write stories that were both romantic and realistic.
Feminist authors such as Vita Sackville-West and Virginia Woolf helped to consolidate Behn's legacy by recognizing her literary accomplishments and leadership for women writers. Her work still appeals to people because of its complex rhyme, strong social commentary, and ongoing influence on English literature's history.
The discovery of a first edition of "Oroonoko" in Kent adds an essential piece to the literary puzzle. It sparks new interest in Behn's groundbreaking contributions to literature and her lasting legacy as a groundbreaking female author.
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