Hannah Webster Foster was an early American novelist known for her sentimental fiction. Her popular novel The Coquette highlights social themes of 18th-century America and remains influential in American literary history.
If you enjoy reading books by Hannah Webster Foster then you might also like the following authors:
Susanna Rowson explores themes like morality, virtue, and the difficult challenges women faced in early American society. In her novel Charlotte Temple, Rowson tells the tragic story of a young woman seduced away from her family.
If you're drawn to Hannah Webster Foster's style, you'll appreciate how Rowson combines emotional storytelling with pointed social criticism.
William Hill Brown is best known as America's first novelist with his book The Power of Sympathy. Like Foster, he uses sentimental fiction to address moral issues, focusing on topics such as seduction, family secrets, and the consequences of societal pressure.
His clear, direct writing style complements themes that explore personal ethics and social judgment.
Samuel Richardson wrote novels about virtue, morality, and social conventions in a clear and emotionally rich style. His novel Pamela; or, Virtue Rewarded follows a young woman's determined effort to maintain her virtue despite difficult circumstances.
Readers who admire Foster will likely enjoy Richardson's approach to character development and moral complexity.
Charles Brockden Brown brings a darker, psychological approach to American storytelling. His novel Wieland blends gothic suspense with explorations of human nature, reason, and madness.
While his style is more intense and mysterious than Foster's, readers intrigued by her examination of societal pressures and emotional conflicts may appreciate Brown's powerful storytelling.
Judith Sargent Murray was a passionate advocate for women's rights and education. Her writing often challenged traditional gender roles and encouraged readers to reconsider the social limits placed on women.
Her essay collection, The Gleaner, is spirited, thoughtful, and forward-thinking. If Foster's insights into women's societal struggles appeal to you, you will likely find Murray's sharp cultural critiques engaging and insightful.
Fanny Burney is great if you enjoy novels about societal customs and lively portrayals of everyday social interactions. Her style combines witty observations and sympathetic characters.
In her novel Evelina, she explores a young woman's entrance into society, humorously showing the pitfalls and challenges of navigating social expectations in 18th-century England.
Tabitha Gilman Tenney provides satirical perspectives on social conventions, particularly highlighting the silliness and triviality often underlying societal norms.
Her novel Female Quixotism pokes fun at sentimental literature through the character Dorcasina, whose obsession with romance novels warps her view of reality, gently prompting readers to reconsider the impact of their reading and expectations.
Royall Tyler writes engaging and humorous works that often satirize American society's emerging identity during the early republic period. His play The Contrast highlights cultural differences between American values and European pretension.
If you enjoyed Foster's attention to social habits and moral messages, Tyler's humorous critiques and lively dialogue might appeal to you.
Laurence Sterne writes in an experimental and playful way, often breaking away from traditional narrative structures. His novel The Life and Opinions of Tristram Shandy, Gentleman is famous for its humor, its imaginative form, and its memorable characters.
Readers who appreciate unconventional approaches to narrative and satirical wit would find Sterne's novel refreshingly original.
Henry Mackenzie's writing is emotional, thoughtful, and socially conscious. His style is sensitive and shows deep empathy for his characters, echoing the sentimental tradition seen in Hannah Webster Foster’s writing.
In his novel The Man of Feeling, Mackenzie creates a compassionate protagonist whose story invites readers to consider questions of morality, empathy, and social responsibility.
Catharine Sedgwick writes thought-provoking works about women's roles in American society, often exploring morality, independence, and the impact of tradition.
In her novel Hope Leslie, she skillfully blends historical events, compelling characters, and social issues, examining early American life from a woman's perspective.
Lydia Maria Child is an author dedicated to social reform and promoting equality. Her writing examines issues like women's rights, abolition, and Native American relations with clarity, empathy, and insight.
Her novel Hobomok explores relationships between cultures and criticizes prejudice, tackling themes similar to Foster's works.
Ann Eliza Bleecker's emotional and personal writing style captures readers with accounts of life on the American frontier. Her narratives often focus on loss, family bonds, and the challenges women faced during violent conflicts.
Her notable work, The History of Maria Kittle, presents moving accounts of hardship, making it relatable to readers attracted to Foster's emotional narratives and feminist themes.
Sally Sayward Barrell Keating Wood often creates sentimental stories filled with domestic concerns and issues affecting women. Her characters navigate marriage, family responsibilities, and social expectations, much like Foster's own heroines.
Wood's novel Julia and the Illuminated Baron weaves romance with moral lessons, revealing her hopes for women's greater autonomy in society.
Elizabeth Inchbald, a writer with sharp insight and wit, often examines the constraints placed upon women by traditional society. Her characters grapple with personal desires, societal expectations, and family pressures, echoing themes Foster explores.
Inchbald's novel A Simple Story looks at the tension between passion and custom, giving readers thoughtful commentary on women's roles and their efforts toward self-determination.