Aphra Behn was a prolific dramatist of the English Restoration, one of the first English professional female literary writers. Along with Delarivier Manley and Eliza Haywood, she is sometimes referred to as part of "The fair triumvirate of wit."
Little is known for certain about Behn's life except for her work as an author and as a spy for the British crown. There is almost no documentary evidence of the details of her first 27 years. She possibly spent time in Surinam, although much of her fiction has become entwined with her apocryphal biography. During the 1660s she was deployed as a political operative in the Netherlands. Facing debt and poverty Behn embarked on a writing career, producing over 19 plays, plus poetry, translation and novels. Despite success in her own lifetime, Behn died in poverty.
The bawdy topics of many of her plays led to her oeuvre being ignored or dismissed since her death. Her reputation slowly improved during the 20th century, but she is still little known to modern audiences.
He that knew all that learning ever writ, Knew only this - that he knew nothing yet. learning
Nothing is more capable of troubling our reason, and consuming our health, than secret notions of jealousy in solitude. health & jealousy
Each moment of a happy lover's hour is worth an age of dull and common life. age, life & love
Faith, sir, we are here today, and gone tomorrow. faith
Love ceases to be a pleasure when it ceases to be a secret. love