Charlotte Temple

 Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ) based on the novel Charlotte Temple:

 

Was Charlotte Temple based on a real person?

Author Susanna Rowson claimed that Charlotte was a true story based on the life of Charlotte Stanley, granddaughter of the Earl of Derby, and Col. John Montresor, Rowson’s cousin. Historical evidence does not support this assertion. Trinity’s burial records from the time were destroyed by fire, and there is no record of Charlotte’s birth in England. The details of Montresor’s life also don’t match up with Rowson’s tale—-though, tantalizingly.

 

What happend to Charlotte's daughter after her trip back to England?

Susanna Rowson did describe in more detail the life and events of young Lucy Temple in her second novel titled Lucy Temple. Read the novel to find out!

 

What category or genre is Susanna Rowson's novel?

The book tells of the seduction of a British schoolgirl by a dashing soldier, John Montraville, who brings her to America and there abandons her, pregnant and ill. As such, it belongs to the seduction novel genre popular in early American literature.

 

Why does the author stop and talk to the audience often?

Unless you actually knew Mrs. Rowson personally than any answer to this would be opinionated, but most often assumption would be that her long pauses can be meant to portray an image not necessarily outlined in the text or to connect personally with her audience. With this information we can gather that since the book is based on a young girl about 13-15 years of age and the frequency of pauses that her main audience is most likely  that of a younger generation mainly female and she feels the need to convey her message in a more abrupt way than subtely through text.

 

 What made Charlotte Temple so popular?

The book Charlotte Temple first came out in England, but with little to no success. To take another shot at trying to make the publication popular, the book moved to America in 1794 where the book became almost like early pop culture. The book quickly became a best seller and went on to publish over 200 American editions. The book of Charlotte Temple most likely became so popular through the main character being at such a young age and ultimately falling in love with a military officer through sneaking out and trying to become her own person. Another reason that Charlotte Temple became one of best sellers was because of the gossip that followed the book. During the publication date gossip was everything to everyone. People would make their judgements on what other people were saying.