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Lisa Hilton

The Scandal of the Century: A thrilling historical biography about the astonishing story of England’s first novel

SKU: 9781405953320
Regular price €26,95
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Playwright, poet, spy, a scarlet woman condemned for loose morals . . . meet Aphra Behn, history's most fascinating female

There are few labels not attached to Aphra Behn - playwright, poet, a spy, a scarlet woman condemned for loose morals. And yet, for all her notoriety Aphra Behn is an enigma.

Born in around 1640, her early life isn't well recorded and facts about her are continually disputed. Her birth name may have been Eaffrey Johnson and she could have been the daughter of a Canterbury barber, although neither fact is certain. And, just after the Restoration she probably briefly lived in the English colony of Surinam in South America, where she was perhaps embroiled in political espionage. Whatever the truth, Behn was in London by 1664 and six years later was writing for the stage.

For a decade, Behn's work dominated the London stage. Then, suddenly in 1682, she was charged with libel. Her plays could not be produced and by the time of the trial of the century Behn was broke. She decided that writing would be her way out and began to write a novel based on the most notorious adultress of a notoriously adulterous age - Lady Henrietta Berkeley.

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The Scandal of the Century: A thrilling historical biography about the astonishing story of England’s first novel
Regular price €26,95
Tax included. Shipping calculated at checkout.

Hunting for a Hard-to-Find Item?
If you’ve found our site while searching for a rare or high-demand item, feel free to
call or message us! We’re happy to set it aside for you.

While we do our best to keep our online listings updated, some books may sell out in our physical shop before changes are reflected online. We appreciate your understanding and are here to help!