Oroonoko: or, The Royal Slave (Paperback)

~ (Author), Lore Metzger (Introduction) "I DO not pretend, in giving you the History of this Royal Slave, to entertain my Reader with Adventures of a feign'd Hero, whose Life..." (more)
Key Phrases: Colonel Martin, Royal Veil, Prince Oroonoko

Editorial Reviews

Product Description

An influential seventeenth-century fable, by a pathbreaking woman writer, about the fall of a black prince. The first woman in England to make her living by writing, Aphra Behn (1640-1689) combines memoir, exotic travel narrative, and romance to tell the story of the noble Oroonoko, a black man who begins life as a prince and ends it as a slave. The tale depicts the overthrow of a hero by a civilization that considers itself superior to him. Taken up by reformers in the long battle against the slave trade, reprinted and imitated countless times, Oroonoko remains a popular tale that introduces powerful themes onto the literary stage.

About the Author

Aphra Behn flourished in the cosmopolitan world of the London playhouse and the court. It was she, Virginia Woolf wrote, "who earned [women] the right to speak their minds."

Product Details

• Paperback: 96 pages
• Publisher: W.W. Norton & Co. (May 17, 1997)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0393312054
• ISBN-13: 978-0393312058
• Product Dimensions: 8.2 x 5.5 x 0.3 inches
• Shipping Weight: 4.5 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 3.6 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (5 customer reviews)
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #1,134,453 in Books (See Bestsellers in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

6 of 8 people found the following review helpful:

3.0 out of 5 stars A surprisingly thoughtful look at slavery, May 14, 2000

By	William Krischke (Portland, OR United States) - See all my reviews (REAL NAME)

This book is two great stories in one. It'd make a great movie.

Oroonoko is an African prince, in love with the beautiful Imoinda. When his elderly, impotent and slovenly uncle the king takes her into his harem, we get a nice Romeo and Juliet scenario that ends with Oroonoko thinking his lover is dead.

Later, the mighty prince is tricked by a sea captain and taken into bondage. He is sold into slavery in South America, where even his owners recognize his majesty. There he discovers his lost love, and something about the nature of bondage.

An compelling look at the nature of bondage, slavery, the human condition, European customs, love and passion, and honor. Especially intriguin because it was written in the 17th century, when slavery wasn't even a disputed practice.

The author is of note as well; Aphra Behn was the first woman to make a living as a writer. And she knows that her perspective is unique, and uses it to add to the story. How does the narrator really feel about this handsome African prince?

Pick it up. It's worthwhile.

3 of 4 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars A surprising anti-slavery novel from the 17th century, May 7, 2004

By	gac1003 "gac1003" - See all my reviews

This review is from: Oroonoko; or, The Royal Slave (Bedford Cultural Editions) (Paperback)

Young Oroonoko, a Prince of Surinam, falls in love with a beautiful young maid named Imoinda. but unbeknownst to Oroonoko, his grandfather the King also has designs on the young maid. While the Prince is away, the King sends his vail to Imoinda, a sign that he wants to bed her. She reluctantly goes and staves off all his advances, professing her love for Oroonoko.

Upon his return, Oroonoko learns what happened to his love and finds her at the King's seraglio. they share a night together, but when the King finds out, he sells Imoinda as a slave, telling Oronooko that she died.

Despondent, Oroonoko is tricked by a British captain and becomes a slave. Taken to a new land, he accidently discovers his true love Imoinda and determines to escape the bonds of slavery no matter what it takes.

This story deals with true love and is probably one of the first novels to deal with the issue of slavery -- even though it wasn't a hotbed issue during the 1680's. The characters are very well-defined, either incredibly good or monstrous, even though they sometimes act more over-the-top or overly dramatic than normal. Oroonoko himself is even based upon a real prince that Behn had met from Surinam. It does take a bit to get used to the lingo and word usage of the 17th century, but I found myself seriously enjoying the story.

1 of 3 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Oroonoko the Romantic Hero, October 7, 2005

By	C. Beran (California) - See all my reviews (REAL NAME)

This review is from: Oroonoko; or, The Royal Slave (Bedford Cultural Editions) (Paperback)

As the first novel written in the English language, Oroonoko holds a special place in our heritage of literature. That it was written by a woman is an even greater accomplishment. The story follows the stream of consciousness of its author, and often skips around in time. There was no editor for this hand written novel, and to a modern audience that can be confusing. Oroonoko is not a tidy book, but it is an amazing book.
Oroonoko is a true romance. The slave-prince, Oroonoko, is a hero, and his main quest is to find the love of his life, Imoinda. After many adventures on his own continent, Oroonoko is swept away to the Caribbean where he is miraculously reunited with Imoinda. From there he continues his nearly unstoppable heroism: he fights immortal tigers, leads an army of slaves against the slavery he sent them into, and faces everything that comes his way with unwavering bravery. The romantic notions of the young narrator further elevate Oroonoko into the status of a man above men; a form of renaissance superhero.
While many claim that the book is distinctly anti-slavery, the true feelings of the narrator and the times are difficult to unravel. They are certainly against the enslavement of this "young Mars" and his "beautiful black Venus" (Behn) but as for the rest of the slaves... Well, you be the judge.