All the Histories and Novels Written by the Late Ingenious Mrs Behn

1718

De Beer Eb 1718 B

London: Printed by J.D. for M. Wellington

Numerous ‘maybes’ surround the life of Aphra Behn (c.1640-1689), the English Restoration playwright, poet, and translator, who rose to fame from obscurity. There are, however, a few facts and firsts to Behn. One fact was she was a spy for Charles II. Indeed, during her lifetime she was known as ‘agent 160’, as well as Ann Behn, Mrs Bean, and Astrea, her pseudonym. She also has the distinction of being one of the first English women to earn a living by her writing, and The Fair Jilt: or, the Amours of Prince Tarquin and Miranda (1688) was the first English novel written by a female writer. Here is the beginning of this novella, and the last page of her better-known short novel, Oroonoko (1688).