Aphra Behn born (14/12/1640)

[Ross Clark]

English playwright, poet, prose writer and translator of the Restoration
era.
Author of _Oroonoko, or the Royal Slave_ (1688),
"one of the earliest novels in English" (Crystal)
"sometimes described as an early novel" (Wiki)
"regarded as one of the first abolitionist and humanitarian novels
published in the English language" (Wiki)

Oroonoko is an African prince who is sold into slavery in Surinam. Behn
is supposed to have traveled to Surinam; if so, Oroonoko may be based on
an actual person she met. See Wiki for much that is uncertain or
speculative about her life.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Aphra_Behn

[Stefan Ram]

Post by Ross Clark
English playwright, poet, prose writer and translator of the Restoration
era.

.--------------------------------------------------------------.
| Heads up, folks! This little back-and-forth might not be how |
| things actually went down back in the day. |
'--------------------------------------------------------------'

Aphra Behn: "Prithee, Mother, Father, I have long pondered...
Wherefore didst thou christen me 'Aphra'?"

Elizabeth Denham (Mother): "Why, my sweet, 'tis a singular
appellation, is it not? We desired something extraordinary
for our little maid."

Bartholomew Johnson (Father): "Aye, and it hath a pleasing
cadence. Aphra Johnson - it doth trip off the tongue most
mellifluously, doth it not?"

Aphra Behn: "But whence came ye by it? 'Tis not a common name,
even in our parts of Kent."

Elizabeth: "In sooth, we heard it from a wandering chapman
who passed through Wye. He spake of a far-off land where
Aphra signified 'beauty' in their tongue."

Bartholomew: "And beauteous thou art, my child. A fitting name
for a maid who would grow to have such a way with words."

Aphra Behn: "A chapman's tale, then? How apt for one who would later
spin yarns of her own. Though I must say, Father, I marvel how my
barber sire and wet-nurse dam knew I would have a way with words!"

Elizabeth: "Oh, peace, child. We may not be of gentle birth,
but we ever knew thou wert destined for greatness."

Bartholomew: "Indeed. And look at thee now - the talk of London's
playhouses! Who would have thought our little Aphra would become
the first Englishwoman to earn her bread by the quill?"

Aphra Behn: "Well, I suppose I have ye both to thank for setting
me upon this path with such an intriguing name. Though I do
wonder if it hath truly helped me stand out in the literary
world or merely added to the air of mystery about me."

Elizabeth: "A little mystery never did harm to any, dear. Especially
not in thy line of work."

Bartholomew: "Just promise us thou wilt not use that mystery
to spin too many tales about thy upbringing. We may be simple
folk, but we are proud to be thy parents."

Aphra Behn: "Fear not, Father. In the world of writing,
sometimes the truth is far more interesting than fiction.
And our family's story is certainly interesting enough!"