Oroonoko (Penguin Classics)

sent as a gift - loved this book

I was extra happy when my copy of Oronooko arrived. I heard so many great reviews about the book and I was glad when my copy arrived early.Thanks again

The book arrived on-time and in really good condition. It is a very easy read and all in all a good book if you are interested in the slave-trade.

I bought this book for a class and was dreading the read. In the end, I was surprised to find that I like it. The book shipped fast, and I read it even faster. Give it a try!

While I enjoyed the story, I must admit that I enjoyed reading the introduction and footnotes even more. They were very interesting and enlightening, and the introduction creates an awe inspiring portrait of Aphra Behn, and what a diamond in the rough she was during the Restoration period of English history.

Fun little story for its time for a college class. Book itself came on time and as described. No complaints.

Aphra Behn's Oroonoko was published in 1688, the same year as the Glorious Revolution which established the supremacy of parliament over the British monarchy. One can only imagine the tense political atmosphere that existed while Ms. Behn crafted her novel.

Literature often masked political stories because laws known as lese majeste prevented criticism against the monarchy.

With Oroonoko, Behn created a formula that was adopted by American abolitionists in the 19th century. Such didactic stories depicted sympathetic black characters, often quadroons passing for white, who were educated and raised with aristocrats, but due to unfortunate circumstances found themselves enslaved. And in some cases, chose to be butchered alive rather than live the rest of their lives as slaves.

The end is a kicker. About slave trade in the Sumatra region, but told as a novel.

Tragic end! Gruesome scenes! If you are okay with these, you will love it. Its real short too.