The Revenge

About the book

"The Revenge: A Tragedy" by Edward Young is a tragedy written in 1721. Set in sixteenth-century Africa under Spanish rule, the play centers on Zanga, an African prince transformed by the brutal experience of slavery into a figure consumed by cruelty and vengeance. The work gained popularity throughout the eighteenth century for its Othello-like lead role, attracting celebrated actors including Edmund Kean and later African-American performer Ira Aldridge. Young's tragedy explores themes of power, suffering, and the devastating psychological toll of oppression.