Oroonoko

This Norton Critical Edition of Oroonoko brings Aphra Behn’s distinctive narrative into sharp focus through detailed explanatory annotations and textual notes, inviting readers to explore the multifaceted world of colonization and slavery that underpins the text. The edition is enriched by an impressive selection of seventeenth- and eighteenth-century documents, offering historical insights into the interactions between colonizers and slaves. Arranged into thematic sections, the Historical Backgrounds collection guides readers through a variety of perspectives - from reflections such as "Montaigne on America" to accounts like "The Settling of Surinam," and from the observations of early chroniclers "Observers of Slavery, 1654–1712" to analyses such as "After Oroonoko: Noble Africans in Europe" and "Opinions on Slavery." Detailed illustrations and maps further enhance the contextual understanding of the era. A thorough Criticism section opens with an overview of responses to Behn and her work, charting insights from her contemporaries to modern critics including figures like Sir Walter Scott and Virginia Woolf, alongside current interpretations by scholars such as William C. Spengemann, Jane Spencer, Robert L. Chibka, Laura Brown, Charlotte Sussman, and Mary Beth Rose. Completing the edition is a Chronology of Behn’s life and a carefully selected Bibliography, providing a valuable resource for further exploration of this classic tale.