The Coquette, or, The History of Eliza Wharton A Novel: Founded on Fact

"The Coquette; or, The History of Eliza Wharton" by Hannah Webster Foster is a story set in the late 1700s about a young woman named Eliza Wharton trying to find her way. The book looks at what it meant to be a good, free woman back then, and the problems that could come up, especially with love. When the story starts, Eliza is dealing with the death of Mr. Haly, who she was going to marry; instead of being sad Eliza feels free because she felt this gave her a chance to go back to having fun. Eliza is both lively and thoughtful, and she thinks a lot about Mr. Boyer and Major Sanford, who both want to be with her, reflecting the problems created by what society expects and what she wants, which shows how being a coquette can be both tempting and dangerous. This beginning lets readers see how mixed up Eliza feels and how much pressure she is under, which will probably connect with anyone who likes stories about making your own choices and dealing with the rules of society.