Charlotte Temple

Charlotte Temple by Susanna Rowson is a sentimental novel first published in 1791. It tells the tragic story of Charlotte, a young, innocent English schoolgirl who is seduced by a charming British officer, Montraville. He convinces her to elope with him to America, where she is soon abandoned, penniless, and pregnant. Betrayed by both Montraville and so-called friends, Charlotte suffers alone and ultimately dies in despair.

The novel serves as a moral warning against seduction, impulsive choices, and the dangers young women face when led astray from virtue and family guidance.