Lifespan: 1758-1840
Nationality: American
Genres: Epistolary novel
Types of Work: Novels
Bio:
Hannah Webster was born 10 September 1858 in Salisbury, Massachusetts to Grant Webster, a well-known merchant. Hannah most likely attended a girl's academy like the one she described in her novel, The Boarding School.
She began writing political articles for Boston newspapers in the 1770s. In 1785, she married Rev. John Foster and the two moved to Brighton, Mass. The couple had six children.
Hannah wrote two novels and continued to write for newspapers. After her husband's death in 1829, she moved to Montreal, Quebec to live with her daughter. She died there on 17 April 1840.
There is a more detailed sketch of the author's life as a preface in the 1855 edition of her novel, The Coquette: or, the History of Eliza Wharton.
Novels:
The Coquette: or, the History of Eliza Wharton (1797)
The Boarding School; or, Lessons of a Preceptress to Her Pupils