Book-bot.com - read famous books online for free

The Lives of the Poets of Great Britain and Ireland (1753) - Volume III by Theophilus Cibber
page 33 of 351 (09%)
The following is an account of her novels, and histories,

They are extant in two volumes 12mo. Lond. 1735, 8th edition, published
by Mr. Charles Gildon, and dedicated to Simon Scroop, Esq; to which is
prefixed the history of the Life and Memoirs of our authoress, written
by one of the fair sex.

1. The History of Oroonoko, or the Royal Slave: This was founded on a
true story, the incidents of which happened during her residence at
Surinam. It gave birth to Mr. Southern's celebrated play of that name;
who in his dedication of it, speaking of his obligation to Mrs. Behn for
the subject, says,

'She had a great command of the stage, and I have often wondered that
she would bury her favorite hero in a novel, when she might have revived
him in the scene. She thought either, that no actor could represent him,
or she could not bear him represented; and I believe the last, when I
remember what I have heard from a friend of her's, that she always told
a story more feelingly than she writ.'

2. The Fair Jilt; or the Amours of Prince Tarquin and Miranda. This is
likewise said to be derived from a true story, to a great part of which
she tells she was an eye witness; and what she did not see, she learned
from some of the actors concerned in it, the Franciscans of Antwerp,
where the scene is laid.

3. The Nun, or the perjured Beauty, a true novel.

4. The History of Agnes de Castro.

DigitalOcean Referral Badge