Incredible tale of forgotten bestselling author from Portsmouth who captivated American hearts is revealed

Charlotte Temple by Susanna Rowson was the first ever bestseller in the United States, capturing the imagination of Americans for generations.

And now to mark the re-release of her work, Susanna’s extraordinary life has been revealed - from her tragic upbringing in Portsmouth to her rise to fame in the States.

'Susanna's was a rich and varied life,' said publisher Matt Wingett. 'It's amazing to think it all began in Portsmouth 258 years ago – and that her work is still read on the other side of the world to this day.’

She was born Susanna Haswell in 1762 in Penny Street, in what’s now Old Portsmouth, the son of Lieutenant William Haswell and Susanna Musgrave.

Tragically, within days of her birth, her mother died - and then her father was despatched to the American colonies a few months later, leaving Susanna alone.

‘Her father married while in America, and returned from Boston, Massachusetts, four years later after his ship was decommissioned,’ Matt added.

‘Four-year-old Susanna and her dad sailed to the colonies where he had secured work as a Boston customs officer.’

This was not the end of Susanna's woes, however. The ship ran aground on its entry to Boston Harbour and the passengers were saved from the wreck days later.

Susanna settled in Nantasket, Boston, where she was welcomed by her stepmother, and given a top-notch education.

Then, when she was 14, the American War of Independence saw her and her family imprisoned by American rebels who resented the customs duty her father collected for the British government.

She returned from America two years later and in 1791 published the book originally titled Charlotte, A Tale Of Truth, while she worked as a governess.

In Britain the book was a flop, but she and her husband moved to Philadelphia to work as actors in 1794, and she republished the book under the title Charlotte Temple.

In the USA it was an immediate hit. The story of a young woman seduced by a British soldier and their elopement to America was lapped up by the Americans.

With its immoral British characters and its abuse of the hapless heroine, the book developed a cult status – with people even visiting the supposed New York grave of the purely fictional Charlotte.

The book became the USA's first ever bestseller, running to over 200 editions, and is still taught in American universities to this day.

Matt, who is publishing the book, insisted he was dedicated to celebrating Portsmouth's literary heritage, and said: ‘This book just cried out to be recognised. Susanna Rowson's life story is quite extraordinary – and Charlotte Temple wasn't her only achievement.'

Susanna wrote ten novels, an opera, six plays, collections of verse, as well as Rowson's Abridgement of Universal Geography (1805), the first ever textbook in the field of human geography.

The new edition of Charlotte Temple has an introduction by Páraic Finnerty, Reader in English and American Literature at the University of Portsmouth.

The book costs £7.50 and is available from the publisher's website lifeisamazing.co.uk, from Amazon and all booksellers.

Matt will also be selling the books at the We Create Market and Love Southsea Market in the weekends before Christmas.

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