Autobiography of an Actress; or Eight Years on the Stage

Anna Cora Mowatt made history as the first woman to pen a Broadway comedy hit with her 1845 play, Fashion, which continues to entertain audiences today. She was also the pioneer of solo public readings of literature by women in the United States. In the vibrant landscape of pre-Civil War America, she established herself as a beloved novelist, poet, playwright, essayist, and correspondent. Autobiography of an Actress chronicles the riveting tale of her life, detailing her relentless fight against the anti-theatrical sentiments of her time. - Summary by Kelly S. Taylor