Aphra Behn was a pioneering Restoration playwright, poet and novelist who is widely celebrated as one of the first women in England to earn a professional living through her writing. Born in December 1640, she emerged as a prolific and influential literary figure during a period when the profession was almost exclusively dominated by men. Her career was marked by a remarkable ability to navigate the complex political and social landscape of the seventeenth century, allowing her to establish a lasting legacy in English literature.

Throughout her career, Behn produced a diverse body of work that consistently challenged contemporary assumptions regarding gender, authorship and political authority. Her writing often explored the intricacies of human desire and social power, frequently pushing the boundaries of what was considered acceptable for a woman of her time to discuss. By engaging with the public stage and the literary marketplace, she asserted her voice in a sphere that had previously sought to exclude female perspectives.

Her literary contributions include a wide range of plays, poems and prose fiction that remain significant for their critical engagement with the colonial experience. Among her most notable works is the novella Oroonoko, which is frequently studied for its complex portrayal of slavery and its nuanced critique of colonial expansion. Through such narratives, she demonstrated a sophisticated understanding of the moral and ethical dilemmas inherent in the imperial ambitions of the era.

Key aspects of her literary career include:

• Establishing a precedent for women to pursue professional writing as a primary source of income.
• Creating influential dramatic works that were performed on the Restoration stage.
• Writing Oroonoko, a foundational text that explored themes of colonialism and human rights.
• Challenging the societal limitations placed upon women in seventeenth-century intellectual life.
• Maintaining a prolific output of poetry and prose that addressed both political and personal themes.

Following her death in April 1689, Behn was buried in the Cloisters of Westminster Abbey. Her life and work continue to be recognised for their boldness and originality, securing her position as a vital figure in the history of English letters. Her ability to transcend the restrictive social norms of the Restoration period ensured that her influence would be felt by generations of writers who followed in her footsteps.