Aphra Behn

  • 25

    Catalog books

  • 10

    Works

  • 1990 to 2021

    Strongest span

Who This Author Is

Aphra Behn appears here through recurring editions of The Rover, a Restoration-era play that blends comedy, mistaken identity, and sharp social observation. These listings emphasize her stagecraft: nimble dialogue, romantic entanglements, and a satirical eye on manners and gender roles across different annotated editions.

The two entries suggest readers encounter Behn via scholarly and popular printings—one concise critical text and a longer, more expansive edition. Together they preserve the play’s theatrical energy and invite modern readers to trace variations in editorial framing, annotations, and contextual apparatus.

Best Place To Start

The rover

Oxford University Press • 2008 • longer commitment

It helps anchor a specific period of this author’s publishing run instead of blending into the undated shelf clutter.

Author At A Glance

Best known for: Restoration drama and comedy • Pioneering English woman playwright • Bold sexual and political themes

Genres and themes: Restoration comedy • Romance and mistaken identity • Gender and power

Who this author is best for: Good for readers who enjoy sharp wit, morally complicated characters, and period plays that challenge social norms.

Start with a modern annotated edition of The Rover to follow stage directions and historical references easily.

Top Books To Start With

  1. The rover

    Oxford University Press • 2008 • longer commitment

    UPB note: year signal: 2008 • 400 pages.

  2. The Rover (Broadview Literary Texts)

    Broadview Pr • 1999 • standard commitment

    It stands out because it asks for less time than many of the longer volumes on this page.

  3. Love-letters Between a Nobleman and his Sister; With the History of Their Adventures. In Three Parts

    Gale ECCO, Print Editions • 2018 • standard commitment

    UPB note: year signal: 2018 • 286 pages.

  4. The history of Oronooko; or, the royal slave. A novel. Containing a variety of entertaining passages. Published by Charles Gildon. The ninth edition corrected.

    Gale ECCO, Print Editions|Gale Ecco, Print Editions • 2010 • quick commitment

    UPB note: year signal: 2010 • 158 pages.

  5. Oroonoko The Royal Slave [EasyRead Large Edition]

    ReadHowYouWant.com • 2006 • quick commitment

    UPB note: year signal: 2006 • 160 pages.

  6. The City Heiress

    Dodo Press • 2005 • quick commitment

    UPB note: year signal: 2005 • 124 pages.

  7. Oroonoko (Bedford Cultural Edition)

    Palgrave Macmillan • 1999 • longer commitment

    UPB note: year signal: 1999 • 368 pages.

  8. Oroonoko, and Other Writings

    Oxford Univ Pr • 1998 • standard commitment

    UPB note: year signal: 1998 • 289 pages.

  9. WORKS OF APHRA BEHN

    Ohio State University Press • 1996 • longer commitment

    UPB note: one of the most common used-copy publishers for this author • year signal: 1996 • 474 pages.

  10. Aphra Behn (1640-1689): Selected Poems (Fyfield Books)

    Harry Ransom Humanities Research Center|Fyfield • 1993 • quick commitment

    UPB note: year signal: 1993 • 128 pages.

How The Picks Compare

  • The Rover (Broadview Literary Texts) is the easier short commitment, while The rover asks for more reading time up front.
  • The Rover (Broadview Literary Texts) gives you an earlier look at this author’s shelf, while The rover leans later in the catalog.
  • Love-letters Between a Nobleman and his Sister; With the History of Their Adventures. In Three Parts is also useful if you want a different publishing lane from The rover.

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