In March 2020, the first volume of the Cambridge Edition of the Works of Aphra Behn was published. To celebrate the completion of Volume 4: Plays 1682-96, the project team and editors held an online launch, and whilst we weren’t able to share stories, beverages and biscuits in person, it was great to see so many faces from around the world.

But Behn wrote far more than the (excellent) six plays included in this first-to-appear volume. Questions of attribution, collation, print history, biography and literary import preside over the remaining seven volumes of the edition. The next volume to appear will be Volume 2 Plays 1676-78, containing new editions of The Town-Fopp, The Rover, Sir Patient Fancy, The Counterfeit Bridegroom and The Debauchee, edited by Elaine Hobby, Claire Bowditch and Jennie Challinor.

Fancy a closer look at this work in progress? See the video below for a short trailer (created by Claire Bowditch):

Work continues apace on this volume, as well as the other six volumes, and we are excited to see what discoveries and insights the next stages of the project will bring.