a) “Charlotte Temple”

“Charlotte Temple” by Susanna Rowson, published in 1791, is often cited as the first American bestseller novel. This sentimental novel tells the story of a young English girl who is seduced, taken to America, and abandoned. Its popularity reflected the tastes and moral sensibilities of the early American reading public. The novel’s widespread appeal and commercial success marked an important development in American literature, highlighting the growing market for novels and the influence of literature on culture and society.