The Works of Aphra Behn (Complete)
- ISBN-10
- 1465603131
- ISBN-13
- 9781465603135
- Pages
- 458
- Language
- English
- Published
- 1967
- Publisher
- Library of Alexandria
- Author
- Aphra Behn
Description
It is perhaps not altogether easy to appreciate the multiplicity of difficulties with which the first editor of Mrs. Behn has to cope. Not only is her life strangely mysterious and obscure, but the rubbish of half-a-dozen romancing biographers must needs be cleared away before we can even begin to see daylight. Matter which had been for two centuries accepted on seemingly the soundest authority is proven false; her family name itself was, until my recent discovery, wrongly given; the very question of her portrait has its own vexed (and until now unrecognized) dilemmas. In fine there seems no point connected with our first professional authoress which did not call for the nicest investigation and the most incontrovertible proof before it could be accepted without suspicion or reserve. The various collections of her plays and novels which appeared in the first half of the eighteenth century give us nothing; nay, they rather cumber our path with the trash of discredited Memoirs. Pearson's reprint (1871) is entirely valueless: there is no attempt, however meagre, at editing, no effort to elucidate a single allusion; moreover, several of the NovelsÑ and the Poems in their entiretyÑ are lacking. I am happy to give (Vol. V) one of the Novels, and that not the least important, The History of the Nun, for the first time in any collected edition. Poems, in addition to those which appeared in Mrs. Behn's lifetime, and were never reprinted after, have been gathered with great care from many sources (of which some were almost forgotten). It is hoped that this new issue of Mrs. Behn may prove adequate. Any difficulties in the editing have been more than amply compensated for by the interest shown by many friends. Foremost, my best thanks are due to Mr. Bullen, whose life-long experience of the minuti¾ of editing our best dramatic literature, has been ungrudgingly at my service throughout, to the no small advantage of myself and my work. Mr. Edmund Gosse, C.B., has shown the liveliest interest in the book from its inception, and I owe him most grateful recognition for his kindly encouragement and aid. Nay, more, he did not spare to lend me treasured items from his library so rich in first, and boasting unique, editions of Mrs. Behn. Mr. G. Thorn Drury, K.C., never wearied of answering my enquiries, and in discussion solved many a knotty point. To him I am obliged for the transcript of Mrs. Behn's letter to Waller's daughter-in-law, and also the Satire on Dryden. He even gave of his valuable time to read through the Memoir and from the superabundance of his knowledge made suggestions of the first importance. The unsurpassed library of Mr. T. J. Wise, the well-known bibliographer, was freely at my disposal. In other cases where I have received any assistance in clearing a difficulty I have made my acknowledgement in the note itself.
Get the book
Similar books
-
The Works of Aphra Behn: v. 5
By Janet ToddADVERTISEMENTS FROM THE 1677 EDITION Playes Printed for J. Magnes and R. Bentley. Forced Marriage: Or the Jealous Bridegroom. Tartuff: Or the French Puritan. All Mistaken: Or the Mad Couple. English Monsieur.
-
The Works of Aphra Behn: v. 7
By Janet ToddThe Emperor of the Moon is the most theatrical and operatic of Behn's plays. Several scenes gain comedy from being meant to take place in pitch blackness when in fact no difference could be made in the theatre between darkness and light ...
-
The Works of Aphra Behn: v. 6
By Janet ToddFor some time before and after this, the compositor seems to have become enamoured of exclamation marks, which occur not only where question marks were more appropriate but also where commas and semi-colons are needed.
-
The Secret Life of Aphra Behn
By Janet ToddSamuel had been in Sir Tobias Bridge's company and had been promised preferment in Flanders. 3. Nipho had spent some £750 in two years, including a payment of £240 to one spy for expenses—it was such a large sum that he was now trying ...
-
Delphi Complete Works of Aphra Behn (Illustrated)
By Aphra BehnThis comprehensive eBook presents Behn’s complete works, with numerous illustrations, informative introductions and the usual Delphi bonus material. (Version 1) * Beautifully illustrated with images relating to Behn’s life and works * ...
-
The Works of Aphra Behn
By Aphra BehnThe Works of Aphra Behn
-
Oroonoko, the Rover and Other Works
By Aphra BehnThe novel also reveals Behn’s ambiguous attitude to African slavery – while she favoured it as a means to strengthen England’s power, her powerful and moving work conveys its injustice and brutality.
-
The Cambridge Companion to Aphra Behn
By Janet Todd, Derek Hughes1697 The Rover revivedbyHis Majesties Servants, LittleLincolnsInnFields; second edition published. The False Count reissued. Possible revivalofThe CityHeiress. Possible revivalof TheYoung King. Poems upon Several Occasions (1684) bound ...
-
The Rover
By Aphra BehnThe magic of Naples during Carnival inspires love between a disparate group of local citizens and visiting Englishmen.
-
The Works of Aphra Behn
By Aphra BehnThe Works of Aphra Behn