A Mission Gone Wrong
In 1666, Agent 160, also known as Aphra Behn, was sent to the Netherlands as a spy for England. Her task was to recruit William Scot as an informant for Charles II. Given £50, Behn quickly ran out of money due to high costs and poor exchange rates. Unable to secure more funds, she faced the possibility of debtors’ prison.
Turning to the Pen
After leaving espionage, Behn turned to writing as a means of survival. By 1670, her first play, The Forc’d Marriage, was performed in London. Her bold and witty works, filled with romance, intrigue, and innuendo, made her one of the most successful playwrights of the Restoration era.
A Woman in a Man’s World
Behn became the second-most produced playwright after John Dryden. Despite her success, she faced criticism for being a woman writing professionally. She defended her right to write, arguing that had she been a man, her plays would have been praised.
Her Lasting Influence
Behn died in 1689, but her works inspired future female writers. Though dismissed by critics for centuries, she was later recognized by Virginia Woolf, who credited her with paving the way for women in literature.
In 1666, Aphra Behn, known as Agent 160, was sent to the Netherlands as a spy. Her mission was to recruit William Scot for Charles II. Given £50, she quickly ran out of money and faced debtor’s prison. With no support from England, she turned to writing as a way to survive. pic.twitter.com/7TkJRphC24
— Detective Tiger's Stories (@TigerDetective) February 24, 2025