Afphra Behn was born in Kent, but spent much of her youth in the West Indies. On her return to England she married, and became well known in Court circles, where Charles II is said to have admired her wit. After only two years of marriage her husband died during the Great Plague and she was left almost penniless. Turning to writing to make a living, Aphra Behn became the first English professional female author. She wrote prolifically, producing at least 18 plays, four of which were performed at court. Her work is famous for its wit, dense plots and sometimes bawdy innuendo. Among the most celebrated of her plays are The Rover, which was being performed in theatres until the end of the eighteenth century, and Sir Patient Fancy, which contains an epilogue defending a woman's right to authorship. As well as plays, she published 15 works of prose, of which Oroonoko; or the Royal slave, which draws on her experiences in the West Indies, is the best known. She also wrote poems commemorating the death of Charles II and celebrating the accession of James II and Queen Mary and published translations from Latin, Greek and French.