Anne Moncure Crane (Seemüller) (January 7, 1838 – December 10, 1872)[1][2] was an American novelist, who wrote books such as Emily Chester, Opportunity and Reginald Archer., which were about female sexual desires.
Her father founded the Richmond (Virginia) African Baptist Missionary Society along with two black clergymen, in 1815, and was a successful merchant.
A dramatic play based on the book was created, exploiting the intriguing new set-up that Crane had introduced – the respectable woman tempted to the verge of adultery, and the resulting effect that the moral predicament has on her personally.
Depending but slightly upon the nature of its plot and outward incidents, its power is almost wholly concentrated upon a deep, faithful, subtle analysis of character.
We close our notice of Miss Crane's production with the remark that no tale has recently appeared, North or South, which is so full of rich evidences of genuine psychological power, a profound study of character in some of its most unique spiritual and mental manifestations, and fervid artistic aspirations, destined to embody themselves gloriously in the future.
Literary historian Arthur Habegger claimed that the protagonist of this novel, Christie Archer, was the inspiration for The Portrait of a Lady by Henry James.
[9] After her death, The Nation published an obituary, expressing the hope that her immoral influence would cease and that her novels no longer be printed.