The First Professional Woman of Letters: Eliza Haywood

Reduced to a wicked caricature-the most reviled female author of her time, vilified by Pope and Fielding-Eliza Haywood (c. 1693-1756) was in fact the most tenacious literary entrepreneur of the 18th century.

Driven by necessity, she executed one of the greatest career reinventions in history. She moved from defining the scandalous amatory novel and daring political satire to becoming the respected editor of The Female Spectator and a foundational pioneer of the English domestic novel.

This book is the definitive biography of a master strategist whose adaptability and sheer volume of work transformed her into the first truly professional woman of letters. It’s the story of survival, slander, and a legacy finally restored. Approx.168 pages, 33200 word count