Love, betrayal, slavery, and resistance collide in one of the earliest English novels. Aphra Behn's Oroonoko, or, The Royal Slave tells the story of an African prince whose life is transformed by betrayal and enslavement. Separated from his homeland and subjected to a brutal new reality, Oroonoko struggles to preserve his dignity, love, and sense of identity. The work explores slavery, colonialism, power, loyalty, love, freedom, and human dignity against the backdrop of the colonial world. Published in the seventeenth century, Oroonoko occupies an important place in the history of English literature and continues to invite discussion about its portrayal of slavery, race, colonial society, and individual freedom. Experience a landmark work of early English fiction and its powerful story of love, captivity, and resistance.
