Anna Cora Mowatt Ritchie

Anna Cora Mowatt Ritchie was a pioneering American playwright, actress, and novelist born in 1819 in Bordeaux, France. A woman of remarkable talent and intellect, she became one of the first female playwrights to gain recognition in the United States. Mowatt's works often explored themes of women's rights and social issues, reflecting the changing landscape of 19th-century America. Her most famous play, "Fashion," satirizes the frivolities of high society and remains a significant piece in American theatrical history.

Beyond her contributions to the stage, Mowatt was also a skilled writer of novels and essays, blending her artistic pursuits with a keen awareness of contemporary societal issues. Her experiences as an actress enriched her storytelling, allowing her to create vividly drawn characters and engaging narratives. As you explore her works in this audiobook app, you'll discover the unique voice of a woman who dared to challenge norms and inspire change through her art. Enjoy the journey into the world of Anna Cora Mowatt Ritchie!

Fairy Fingers

Read by Kelly S. Taylor 4.2
Madelaine is the poor cousin of the aristocratic de Gramont family in France of the 1850’s. She is cherished by the beautiful young Bertha a…

The Fortune Hunter: A Novel of New York Society

Read by Kelly S. Taylor 3.3
Mowatt wrote The Fortune Hunter to be submitted to a contest held by the New World newspaper. (The novel won the $100 prize.) Contest rules…

Italian Life and Legends

Read by Kelly S. Taylor 4.5
A mix of short works written by Anna Cora Mowatt Ritchie during her residence in Florence from 1864-65, this collection was edited and prepa…

Evelyn; or A Heart Unmasked

Read by Kelly S. Taylor 4
Evelyn is a two-volume novel told in an epistolary style – alternating between letters from the point of view of a trusted, unmarried female…

The Mute Singer, a Novel

Read by Kelly S. Taylor 4.2
Sylvie de la Roche is the daughter of a destitute former nobleman and his wife living in the slums of Paris circa 1847. Her magnificent sing…

Autobiography of an Actress; or Eight Years on the Stage

Read by Kelly S. Taylor 4.3
Anna Cora Mowatt was the author of the first Broadway comedy hit written by a woman. Her 1845 play “Fashion” is still performed today. She w…

Gulzara; or The Persian Slave

Read by LibriVox Volunteers 5
“Gulzara, The Persian Slave” is a rare example of a script for a Victorian melodrama that was intended as a private theatrical – to be perfo…

Armand; or The Peer and The Peasant

Read by LibriVox Volunteers 4.4
Although almost completely obscure today, this romantic melodrama was arguably a bigger hit for actress/playwright Anna Cora Mowatt than her…

Mimic Life; or Before and Behind the Curtain

Read by Kelly S. Taylor
Mimic Life; or Before and Behind the Curtain is a collection of three narratives about life in the theater based on Mowatt’s career on stage…

Pelayo: or Cavern of Covadonga, A Romance

Read by Kelly S. Taylor
This epic poem tells the dramatic story of King Pelayo, an Asturian ruler in Northern Spain who lead his people to a hard-fought victory ove…

Reviewers Reviewed

Read by Kelly S. Taylor
This satirical text was a response to the drubbing the fledgling poet received at the hands of the critics to her debut work, “Pelayo, or th…