Reviews - Oroonoko: Or, The Royal Slave, A True Story

660 reviews for:

Oroonoko: Or, The Royal Slave, A True Story

I had to read this in its entirety for my English class, a survey of literature pre-1800. While I can't say I totally enjoyed this precursor to the modern-day novel, it did make me think. The depictions of slavery are fascinating -- even though they portray it as a brutal practice, the narrator never really condemns the institution as a whole. Oronooko as a character is an excellent example of the way whites viewed other races in the 17th Century. In this book, he is lauded as being noble, but mostly for his European physical characteristics, although his honesty and kingly spirit are traits he shares with no white character in the book. I don't think Behn was promoting feminism or abolitionism in her book here, but it's an interest perspective regardless. Pretty gory read at times, though.

elllie_725's review against another edition

2.0

It's not a bad read, I liked the love story, the way they demonstrated the effect of the colonist on the prince and some of the vivid descriptions but it was a bit racist tbh - a lot of Oronooko's value was based upon being educated like the white people and that just made that Behn was trying to get at a bit uncomfortable.

kaitmannix's review against another edition

2.0

challenging dark reflective slow-paced

Plot or Character Driven: Character

Strong character development: Complicated

Loveable characters: Complicated

Diverse cast of characters: No

Flaws of characters a main focus: Complicated

lollypopzoo's review against another edition

challenging dark reflective sad medium-paced

Plot or Character Driven: A mix

Strong character development: Yes

Loveable characters: Yes

Diverse cast of characters: Yes

Flaws of characters a main focus: Yes

sj_ridgeway's review against another edition

3.5

adventurous challenging dark emotional mysterious reflective sad tense slow-paced

brenommk's review against another edition

4.75

adventurous challenging sad medium-paced

Plot or Character Driven: Character

Strong character development: No

Loveable characters: Yes

Diverse cast of characters: Yes

Flaws of characters a main focus: Yes

daybreak1012's review against another edition

2.0

I appreciate the historical significance of the topic and the author, but good Lord, this was a depressing story. I'm grateful it was also mercifully short.