Eaton Stannard Barrett
The Heroine
"The Heroine" by Eaton Stannard Barrett is a novel first published in 1813. This satirical work follows Cherry Wilkinson, a novel-obsessed young woman who imagines herself as the heroine of a Gothic romance. She interprets reality through the lens of popular Gothic fiction, leading to a series of absurd misadventures. A parody of both Gothic novels and romantic excess, the story ultimately delivers a conservative message about women's proper roles in society.