Hannah Webster Foster facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Hannah Webster Foster
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| Born | September 10, 1758/59 Salisbury  |
| Died | April 17, 1840 |
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| Works | The Coquette |
| Children | Harriet Vaughan Cheney, Eliza Lanesford Cushing |
Hannah Webster Foster (born September 10, 1758 or 1759, died April 17, 1840) was an American writer. She is best known for her novels, especially The Coquette.
Her first novel, The Coquette; or, The History of Eliza Wharton, came out in 1797. At first, her name was not on the book. It sold very well in the late 1700s. Later, in 1798, she published another book. It was called The Boarding School; or, Lessons of a Preceptress to Her Pupils. This book shared her thoughts on how girls should be educated in the United States.
Contents
About Hannah Webster Foster
Her Early Life and Education
Hannah Webster Foster was born in Salisbury, Massachusetts. Her father was a rich merchant. It is believed that Hannah went to a special school for young women. This was similar to the school she wrote about in her book, The Boarding School.
Her writings show that she was very well educated. She knew a lot about literature and history. In the 1770s, she started writing articles for newspapers in Boston. These articles were often about politics.
Her Writing Career
Hannah Foster wrote two important novels during her lifetime. Both books explored ideas about women's lives and education. She also wrote for newspapers.
The Coquette
Her first novel, The Coquette; or, The History of Eliza Wharton (1797), was very popular. It was a fictional story based on a real event. This event was a famous news story in New England.
The novel tells the story of Eliza Wharton. It teaches a lesson about being too flirtatious. However, it also shows Eliza as a complex character. This made the book more than just a simple lesson.
The Boarding School
Foster's second novel was The Boarding School; or, Lessons of a Preceptress to Her Pupils. This book was about the importance of women's education. It did not sell as well as The Coquette.
The story takes place at a school for girls. It includes the thoughts of the headmistress. It also has letters from the students about their learning. Through this book, Foster showed that she strongly believed women should get a good education.
Her Family and Later Years
In 1785, Hannah married Rev. John Foster. He was a graduate of Dartmouth College. They settled in Brighton, Massachusetts. There, John Foster worked as a pastor at the First Church.
Hannah and John had six children together. After having her children, she wrote her two famous books. She also continued to write for newspapers. When her husband passed away in 1829, she moved to Montreal, Quebec, Canada. She lived there with her daughters. Hannah Webster Foster died in Montreal when she was 81 years old.
Her daughters, Harriet Vaughan Cheney and Eliza Lanesford Cushing, also became popular writers. They wrote many books and poems. Sometimes, they even wrote together.
