Oroonoko

By Aphra Behn

Book Overview

A new single-volume edition of an early anti-slavery novel

When Prince Oroonoko's passion for the virtuous Imoinda arouses the jealousy of his grandfather, the lovers are cast into slavery and transported from Africa to the colony of Surinam. Oroonoko's noble bearing soon wins the respect of his English captors, but his struggle for freedom brings about his destruction. Inspired by Aphra Behn's visit to Surinam, Oroonoko reflects the author's romantic views of native peoples as being in "the first state of innocence, before man knew how to sin." The novel also reveals Behn's ambiguous attitude toward slavery: while she favored it as a means to strengthen England's power, her powerful and moving work conveys its injustice and brutality.

This new single-volume edition of Oroonoko includes a carefully modernized text accompanied by an introduction, chronology, explanatory notes and suggestions for further reading.

For more than seventy years, Penguin has been the leading publisher of classic literature in the English-speaking world. With more than 1,700 titles, Penguin Classics represents a global bookshelf of the best works throughout history and across genres and disciplines. Readers trust the series to provide authoritative texts enhanced by introductions and notes by distinguished scholars and contemporary authors, as well as up-to-date translations by award-winning translators.

• Format: Paperback
• Language: English
• ISBN: 0140439889
• ISBN13: 9780140439885
• Release Date: May 2004
• Publisher: Penguin Classics
• Length: 144 Pages
• Weight: 0.28 lbs.
• Dimensions: 0.4" x 5.1" x 7.7"
• Age Range: 18 years and up
• Grade Range: Postsecondary and higher

Customer Reviews

Excellent introduction

While I enjoyed the story, I must admit that I enjoyed reading the introduction and footnotes even more. They were very interesting and enlightening, and the introduction creates an awe inspiring portrait of Aphra Behn, and what a diamond in the rough she was during the Restoration period of English history.

Super Fast Shipping!

I had a large order, and this came first. It shipped freaky fast, in good condition. I recommend this seller!

A Brave New World

This book was required reading for my American Literature course. Why read a story about an African prince in Surinam in an American Lit class? Voyage to a brave new world! That was the theme of the class. It encompassed the whole colonial experience in all of the "Americas". I am glad my professor went that route or I probably would never have read OROONOKO. This is a wonderful read. It is more a love story to me than a slave story. This book was written centuries ago but it is a very easy read. The footnotes in this version are a great help but the context of the story is enough for most readers to not get lost in archaic language. Add this one to your library. It is definitely worth it.

OROONOKO

THIS BOOK IS WONDERFUL IF YOU REALLY WANT TO LEARN MORE ABOUT SLAVERY.