This work investigates the historical reception and enduring influence of Aphra Behn, positioning her as a pivotal figure in the development of the professional woman writer within the English literary canon. Jane Spencer, an expert in Restoration literature, utilizes a comprehensive analysis of Behn's diverse body of work—spanning poetry, drama, and prose—to argue that her legacy was far more significant to eighteenth-century literary formation than previously acknowledged. The text systematically examines how Behn's reputation shifted over time, challenging traditional narratives that marginalized female authors of the period.

Scholars and critics recognize this text as a foundational study for understanding Behn's transition from a marginalized figure to a central subject of Restoration studies. Readers frequently note the academic rigor and the clarity with which the author navigates complex historical reception patterns.