Although Cowley's plays and poetry did not enjoy wide popularity after the 19th century, critic Melinda Finberg rates her as "one of the foremost playwrights of the late eighteenth century" whose "skill in writing fluid, sparkling dialogue and creating sprightly, memorable comic characters compares favourably with her better-known contemporaries, Goldsmith and Sheridan.

The introduction to her 1813 collected works gives an account of how Cowley was struck by a sudden desire to write while attending a play with her husband.

Meanwhile, Sheridan agreed to produce Who's the Dupe?, but delayed its 1779 première until late spring, an unprofitable time for a new play to open.

On 10 August, More wrote to the St. James Chronicle to protest that she "never saw, heard, or read, a single line of Mrs. Cowley's Tragedy."

With the Hannah More controversy behind her, Cowley wrote her most popular and enduring comedy, The Belle's Stratagem, which was produced at Covent Garden in 1780.

It was performed 28 nights in its first season and 118 times in London before 1800,[8] a respectable success that consolidated her family's financial position.

Her next play, The World as it Goes; or, a Party at Montpelier (later entitled Second Thoughts Are Best) was a flop, but she continued to write until 1794, seeing seven more plays into production: Which is the Man?, A Bold Stroke for a Husband, More Ways Than One, A School for Greybeards, or, The Mourning Bride, The Fate of Sparta, or, The Rival Kings, A Day in Turkey, or, The Russian Slaves, and The Town Before You.

He moved to India and left Hannah in London to raise their children; Thomas died there in 1797, never having returned to England.

Hannah Cowley had a less distinguished career as a poet, writing The Scottish Village, or Pitcairne Green in 1786, and The Siege of Acre: an Epic Poem[9] in 1801.

In the summer of 1787, under the pseudonym "Anna Matilda," she and the poet Robert Merry (writing as Della Crusca) began a poetic correspondence in the pages of the journal The World.

To Which Are Added Recollections, Printed from an Original Manuscript, Written by General Sir William Waller (London: J.

In 1801, Cowley retired to Tiverton, Devon, where she spent her remaining years away from the public spotlight, quietly revising her plays.

George Hargrave, who is home from college, is overjoyed to learn that Emily, the mysterious runaway whom his godfather, Mr. Drummond, has taken in, is the same young lady he fell in love with at a recent masquerade.

Her uneducated father, Abraham Doiley, has promised her hand to the most educated man he can find, an unappealing but intelligent scholar named Gradus.

Edward is relieved when the real Albina rushes into the room, and the dying Gondibert asks for and receives her pardon.

Meanwhile, Doricourt's friend Sir George is being overprotective of his new wife, Lady Frances, who rebels and agrees to accompany Mrs. Racket for a day in the town and a masquerade ball that night.

Set in Madrid, the play tells of Don Carlo, who has fled his wife, Victoria, for the courtesan Laura.

Laura breaks off with Don Carlo, but she holds on to the documents that entitle her to his land, a gift he foolishly gave her.

Victoria persuades Olivia's servant to disguise himself as her rich uncle, the original owner of the land that Laura now holds.