Aphra Behn, Abdelazer, or The Moor's Revenge

Dawn Lewcock (Independent Scholar - Europe)

The Literary Encyclopedia. Volume 1.2.1.04: English Writing and Culture of the Seventeenth Century, 1625-1688.
Vol. editors: Jennifer Brady (Rhodes College), Daniel Cook (University of Dundee), Neil Forsyth (Université de Lausanne), Claire Preston (Queen Mary, University of London), J A Roe (University of York), Virginia Mason Vaughan (Clark University)

Dates

First circulation or publication 1676 - 1681

Places

England (Country of Origin)

Genres and Modes

Play

Resources

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Abdelazer; or the Moor’s Revenge

was Aphra Behn’s (1640?-1689) only tragedy. It was performed in 1676 at a time when there was a vogue for the genre at both Drury Lane and Dorset Gardens theatres Nathaniel Lee had made his debut at Drury Lane with two ranting blood and thunder tragedies, and both Otway and D’Urfey had tragedies produced that year.

Abdelazer

may have been shown earlier but it was certainly presented by the Duke’s Company at Dorset Gardens on 3rd July 1676.

It is not as good a play as Behn’s comedies although it is a much improved version of what is thought to be its source, Lust’s Dominion or the Lascivious Queen This was a tragedy usually attributed to Marlowe (1564-1593), although other authors have been suggested. It was published in 1657 and tells the story

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2089 words

Citation: Lewcock, Dawn. "Abdelazer, or The Moor's Revenge". The Literary Encyclopedia. First published 22 October 2007 [https://www.litencyc.com/php/sworks.php?rec=true&UID=6876, accessed 05 May 2024.]

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