Susanna Haswell Rowson (Book order (chronological))

Susanna Haswell Rowson Book order (chronological)

Susanna Rowson was a British-American author whose work significantly influenced early American literature. Her writing was characterized by a keen insight into the social norms and moral dilemmas of her era. Rowson explored various literary forms, from novels to poetry, and her texts often delved into themes of honor, betrayal, and the search for identity within challenging societal structures. Her ability to capture the psychological depth of characters and the moral complexity of situations establishes her as a significant figure in American fictional history.

Charlotte Temple

160 pages
6 hours of reading

<i>Charlotte Temple</i> became a "best seller," going through over 200 editions and holding the title of the most popular American novel until <i>Uncle Tom's Cabin</i>. The story follows a beautiful English girl, Charlotte, who, at 15, elopes with British lieutenant Montraville. After arriving in America, Montraville abandons her to marry another woman and leaves for the Revolutionary War. Desperate and pregnant, Charlotte seeks out the corrupt French teacher who encouraged her relationship with Montraville. Rejected, she finds refuge with her servant. Charlotte's father, a nobleman with a tarnished fortune, arrives just in time to bury his daughter and claim her illegitimate child. Although there is no historical evidence to support the story's claims, Susanna Rowson maintained it was true, and it was embraced as a "tale of truth." In the 19th century, a tombstone with Charlotte's name was erected in New York's Trinity Churchyard, where readers left flowers, locks of hair, and love letters for America's most famous fictional character. Cathy N. Davidson's introduction explores the book's immense popularity and Rowson's sensational life, which rivaled her characters' stories.

1986