The Escapades of Tribulation Johnson

The Escapades of Tribulation Johnson by Karen Brooks is definitely a rollicking good story set in Restoration England. With the name of the main character being Tribulation the reader can be reasonably sure that chaos will follow her.  When Tribulation is banished from the family home she moves to London to live with her cousin Aphra Behn, a playwright, writer and one time spy.

In London, the only way that Tribulation can initially earn her living is working in the theatre as an actress or as a prompter. Because she has connections many of the members of the theatre company are jealous and it is not easy for her to become accepted. 

Political unrest abounds in London in 1679. Charles II is back on the throne but there is much discussion regarding who his successor should be. Catholic and anti-Catholic sentiments abound threatening the lives of ordinary people. This is also a time when women are not allowed to assert themselves and give their opinions. Young ladies are expected to be demure and obey the men in the family. As an aspiring writer Tribulation must publish her work as anonymous or use a pseudonym for her own protection.

The theatre scene in London is the setting for much of the book. This work of historical fiction is set out in the style of a play with five acts and scenes within each act. Most of the chapters are narrated by the fictional character of Tribulation Johnson interspersed with occasional chapters by an observer. 

Many of the characters were people living at the time however other characters, including Tribulation, are purely fictional. The novel therefore provides a fictional account of a historical time period. A list of characters at the back of the book indicates characters who are real and those who are fictional.

Online articles about Aphra Behn

Aphra Behn - The British Library

Aphra Behn - Encyclopedia Britannica  

Aphra Behn - Poetry Foundation