The Scandal of the Century

<p><b>This is <i>The Scandal of the Century</i>, the true story of the author Aphra Behn, who used a shocking love affair to create the first English novel . . .</b></p><p><br>''<b>Gloriously mind-boggling . . .This is a lively book, full of saucy millennial-type analogies''</b> Spectator<br><br>–<br><br><b>London, 1682. </b><br><br>When Lady Henrietta Berkeley elopes with her sister’s husband, her subsequent capture and the lawsuit that follows tears through Restoration England as the scandal of the century. <br><br>But it also proves inspiration to one Aphra Behn – already condemned as a scarlet woman of loose morals – who pens a searing and outrageous bestseller based on Henrietta’s shocking affair. <br><br>The story of how and why Henrietta acted as she did, and how and why Behn came to write it becomes, in Lisa Hilton’s hands, a stunning portrait of two women attempting to smash the shackles enslaving their sex.<br><br>–<br><br><b><u>PRAISE FOR <i>THE SCANDAL OF THE CENTURY</i></u></b><br><br>''<b>A landmark book, a sweeping, scintillatingly original, exciting and game changing exploration of writer, spy, power player, lover Aphra Behn. Thrilling, scholarly, powerfully researched, this is Aphra as she’s never been seen before</b>'' Kate Williams, historian and author of Rival Queens: The Betrayal of Mary, Queen of Scots<br><br><b>''The Scandal of the Century allows Hilton to showcase her skill for both historical and detective work and compelling, evocative writing . . . compelling to read [and] refreshingly transparent . . . Her fresh ideas could open up exciting paths for future scholars</b>’ BBC History Magazine<br><br>''<b>An enjoyable read . . . challenging - but always entertaining</b>'' Literary Review<br><br>''E<b>ngaging, ingenious, lively . . . Hilton skilfully narrates background material of the Restoration''</b> TLS<br></p>