The Poetry Of Charlotte Smith: "If conquest does not bind posterity, so neither can compact bind it."

The life of Charlotte Turner Smith unfolds against a backdrop of personal tragedy and societal constraints. After a tumultuous marriage to the unfaithful Benjamin Smith, she turned to writing, producing the acclaimed "Elegiac Sonnets," which sparked a revival of the sonnet form. Smith's novels, including "Emmeline" and "The Old Manor House," highlighted the exploitation of women under marriage laws, advocating for legal reforms. Despite financial struggles and declining health, she continued to write until her death in 1806, leaving a lasting impact on English literature.