Aphra Behn publishes Oroonoko
Poet involved
What happened
In 1688, Aphra Behn published Oroonoko, a prose narrative about an African prince enslaved in Suriname. The work blends romance, travel narrative, political reflection and colonial violence. It is a key text in early English fiction.
Literary impact
Oroonoko gave later writers a troubling model for representing slavery, nobility and empire. Behn's career also mattered for women writers, proving that a woman could earn literary authority in the commercial marketplace.
Source: Wikipedia
