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Aphra Behn

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Playwright

The Resume

    (July 10, 1640-April 16, 1689)
    Born in Wye, London, England, United Kingdom
    Died in London, England
    Dramatist during Restoration
    Specialized in amatory fiction--writing by women, for women
    Writings included 'Oroonoko,' 'The Rover' and 'Love-Letters Between a Nobleman and His Sister'

Why she might be annoying:

    Her work was a precursor to 20th century cheesy romance novels.
    Critic Harold Bloom declared her a 'fourth-rate playwright.'
    She, Delarivier Manley and Eliza Haywood made up the 'naughty triumvirate' due to their sex-drenched tales.
    Her marriage to Johan Behn lasted only a couple of years.
    King Charles II recruited her as a spy for the British during the Second Anglo-Dutch War.
    She embarked in an affair with a nobleman to steal secrets.

Why she might not be annoying:

    She ended up in debtor's prison when Charles II didn't pay up.
    She was one of the first women to make money solely from writing.
    She believed it a lady's right to be sexually liberated.
    Her works explored the correlation between sexism and racism.
    Virginia Woolf proclaimed, 'All women together, ought to let flowers fall upon the grave of Aphra Behn...for it was she who earned them the right to speak their minds.'

Credit: Black Chic


Featured in the following Annoying Collections:

Year In Review:

    For 2024, as of last weekly ranking, Out of 4 Votes: 100% Annoying
    In 2023, Out of 2 Votes: 100% Annoying
    In 2022, Out of 5 Votes: 20.0% Annoying
    In 2021, Out of 7 Votes: 85.71% Annoying
    In 2020, Out of 2 Votes: 50.0% Annoying
    In 2019, Out of 2 Votes: 50.0% Annoying
    In 2018, Out of 2 Votes: 50.0% Annoying
    In 2017, Out of 2 Votes: 0% Annoying
    In 2016, Out of 11 Votes: 54.55% Annoying
    In 2015, Out of 3 Votes: 100% Annoying
    In 2014, Out of 10 Votes: 60.0% Annoying
    In 2013, Out of 3 Votes: 66.67% Annoying
    In 2012, Out of 7 Votes: 71.43% Annoying
    In 2011, Out of 12 Votes: 66.67% Annoying
    In 2010, Out of 20 Votes: 70.0% Annoying
    In 2009, Out of 7 Votes: 42.86% Annoying