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elizastemmons's review against another edition
adventurous
challenging
dark
emotional
informative
reflective
sad
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
2.0
sabriel6's review against another edition
4.5
I have seen a number of comments suggesting Behn is a racist, but this is an ahistorical misunderstanding of her work. The character of Oroonoko is supposed to be a representation of King Charles I, and is a sympathetic portrayal of a King wrongly persecuted by others lesser than himself. The notion of ‘black as other’ is in fact an eighteenth century construction, and one that finds no foothold in Behn’s work, for whom the only virtues were aristocracy and wit. There have been various attempts to write behn out of history - firstly because she was a woman, and secondly because she was considered too sexually frank. I encourage readers to read her within her historical context and to not excise her again, merely because she deals with subjects which are culturally problematic today.
cassiedymoke's review
Read Oroonoko and The Rover. I particularly enjoyed Hellena from the latter.
dsbookie's review against another edition
3.0
I had to read this for one of my classes and I have got to say, I didn't really enjoy it that much. It got too hectic at times and the language kept tripping me up (which is weird because I am fine with Shakespeare which was written around the same time). Oh well.
readingseal's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? N/A
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
0.5
sarahreadsaverylot's review against another edition
3.0
A great collection from a landmark writer. The raunchy humour was a bit of a surprise, as were her ironic poems.
bahnree's review against another edition
The Fair Jilt: I *think* this is satire but otherwise I have no idea what I read. It’s at least a change to see the woman ruining all of the men’s reputations for once.
Oronooko: Y I k e s.
Love Letters to a Gentleman: Besides the language, this could be written yesterday.
Poems: My favorite was “Epilogue.”
The Rover: every time something interesting was happening it was interrupted by someone trying to rape someone
The Widow Ranter: y i k e s
Oronooko: Y I k e s.
Love Letters to a Gentleman: Besides the language, this could be written yesterday.
Poems: My favorite was “Epilogue.”
The Rover: every time something interesting was happening it was interrupted by someone trying to rape someone
The Widow Ranter: y i k e s
julianareading's review
3.0
In this edition I read the novella Oroonoko, the play The Widow Ranter, and the poems Love Armed, The Disappointment, Song: On Her Loving Two Equally, To the fair Clarinda, who made Love to me, imagined more than a Woman, and On Desire: A Pindaric
charlottedrummond's review against another edition
2.0
just some good old-fashioned racism written by a monarch-supporting colonizer
freshbatchofbooks's review against another edition
5.0
Aphra Behn is an amazing author & I feel like she's underrated, I haven't even heard of her until her name appeared on my summer reading list. Her stories are amazing and her poetry is astounding. I love her.