[...] a Devil on't the Woman damns the Poet. -- Aphra Behn, Preface to The Lucky Chance Aphra Behn (1640-1689) was not the first woman writer; neither was she the only woman writer of her day. But Aphra Behn holds the singular distinction of being the first professional woman writer in the English language. That's right, ladies -- Aphra Behn was the first woman writer who did it for money. It was a natural choice for …showed first 75 words of 1341 total…

…showed last 75 words of 1341 total…x, have this freedom, but that you will usurp all to yourselves; I lay down my quill, and you shall hear no more of me [...]; for I am not content to write for a third day only. I value fame as much as if I had been born a hero; and if you rob me of that, I can retire from the ungrateful world, and scorn its fickle favors." -- Aphra Behn, The Lucky Chance