About the Book: Oroonoko, the Rover, and Other Works
When Prince Oroonokos passion for the virtuous Imoinda arouses the jealousy of
his grandfather, the lovers are cast into slavery and transported from Africa to
the colony of Surinam. Oroonokos noble bearing soon wins the respect of his
English captors, but his struggle for freedom brings about his destruction.
Inspired by Aphra Behns visit to Surinam, Oroonoko (1688) reflects the authors
romantic view of Native Americans as simple, superior peoples in the first state
of innocence, before men knew how to sin. The novel also reveals Behns ambiguous
attitude to African slavery-while she favoured it as a means