# Charlotte Temple: America’s First Bestseller

Originally published in London in 1791, Susanna Rowson (1762-1824)’s tragic novel Charlotte Temple became one of the most popular books in the early United States. The Library of Congress’ Charlotte Temple collection reflects the enduring popularity of the book and the deep emotional connection that generations of readers felt to this story of a young English girl seduced and abandoned by a British soldier during the American Revolution.

- Kind: Talk
- Year: 2025
- Runtime: 5 min
- By: Rose, Rebecca
- Archive: [Library of Congress](https://www.loc.gov/item/video-10976/)
- Licence or status: Rights statement at the Library of Congress (as the archive states it)
- Credit: Library of Congress
- Who can watch: Teens profiles and older (the archive gives no rating; placed by Invisible Network from its collection and subjects)

[Watch now](https://invisiblenetwork.ai/watch/archive/loc/video-10976?play=1)