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A 17th-century scandal & a writer's secret life

Lisa Hilton delves into the case of the scandalous 17th-century affair of Lady Henrietta Berkeley – and reveals how its dramatic twists and turns proved a source inspiration for the writer Aphra Behn

Published: June 5, 2024 at 7:22 AM

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To poet, playwright and writer Aphra Behn, the tale of a runaway aristocrat's daughter Lady Henrietta Berkeley, her scandalous affair and equally dramatic subsequent trial was rich material for some of the most outrageous and bestselling political fiction of the 17th century. However, Behn's own life may have been equally as exciting. Speaking to Emily Briffett, author Lisa Hilton untangles the stories of these two women at the heart of her new book, The Scandal of the Century, to highlight what they can reveal about the lives of women at this time

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Lisa Hilton is the author of The Scandal of the Century (Penguin, 2024)

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Authors

Emily BriffettSenior content producer (podcasts)

Emily Briffett is senior content producer (podcasts) at HistoryExtra

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