| This blog explores social attitudes in Jane Austen's time, discusses her novels, reviews forgotten 18th century novels, and throws some occasional shade at the modern academy. The introductory post is here. My "six simple questions for academics" post is here. |
CMP#171 Charlotte Temple, a Tale of Truth, by Susanna Rowson
Seducing a 15-year-old: Georgiana Darcy and Wickham When I started reading the novella Charlotte Temple, I didn’t realize I was reading the biggest American best-seller of the 19th century, second only to Uncle Tom’s Cabin. The tear-jerker story, which is set in England and the United States, was first published in England in 1791, then republished in America where it found a large and lasting audience.
The author, Susanna Rowson, stated that the tragic tale of Charlotte was based on a true story, and this assertion was emphasized in subsequent editions. An 1860 edition claims: “The house in which the unhappy girl sojourned for a time, and miserably expired, yet stands on the Bowery, New York City, a sad monument of her wrongs, and many indeed are those who have dropped the tear of pity as they gazed upon it….” [It has] been often remarked that no one could read this truthful tale of woe without shedding tears…”
Charlotte Temple opens in England with two idle young army officers watching a queue of pretty young schoolgirls exit a church. One of them in particular catches their eye; she is only fifteen years old. Heroines in novels are often deprived of their mothers through death before the story opens; in this case Charlotte’s mother is alive, but not on hand to safeguard her, and her favorite teacher, Mademoiselle La Rue, is no fit substitute, because she’s French and has a shady past.
The author, Susanna Rowson, stated that the tragic tale of Charlotte was based on a true story, and this assertion was emphasized in subsequent editions. An 1860 edition claims: “The house in which the unhappy girl sojourned for a time, and miserably expired, yet stands on the Bowery, New York City, a sad monument of her wrongs, and many indeed are those who have dropped the tear of pity as they gazed upon it….” [It has] been often remarked that no one could read this truthful tale of woe without shedding tears…”
Charlotte Temple opens in England with two idle young army officers watching a queue of pretty young schoolgirls exit a church. One of them in particular catches their eye; she is only fifteen years old. Heroines in novels are often deprived of their mothers through death before the story opens; in this case Charlotte’s mother is alive, but not on hand to safeguard her, and her favorite teacher, Mademoiselle La Rue, is no fit substitute, because she’s French and has a shady past.
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