The History of Miss Betsy Thoughtless

A lively, pretty young orphan with a large fortune, Miss Betsy Thoughtless is courted by several eligible suitors. Enjoying their adoration, she dallies with their affections and postpones marriage. Her flirtatiousness, however, alienates the right man, and scares her guardian into marrying her off to a brutish husband. This is one of the first novels (1751) to depict a heroine questioning the sexual double standard and institution of marriage. This is the only edition in print of this provocative story of sexual politics.