Margaret Jane Mussey Sweat (1823–1908) was an American author, patron and reformer from Portland, Maine.

Mussey married Lorenzo De Medici Sweat at age 26 in 1849 and began keeping a journal.

Her husband was a lawyer; he graduated from Bowdoin College and served in the Maine Senate and then the United States House of Representatives (1863-1865).

A noted poet, journalist, and author, Sweat wrote the first American lesbian novel, Ethel's Love Life.

Sweat loved to cook; she wrote her own recipe books and prepared meals, typically on Sundays, that served a guaranteed 10 couples that she invited.

A typical meal consisted of "tomato soup, broiled salmon with egg sauce, boiled lamb… roast chickens, ham, lobster salad, potatoes corn, steamed custards, strawberry and vanilla ices, charlotte russe, coffee, champagne."

After 1900, Sweat's life was divided into three cycles: June to early fall Portland, Maine; late fall and early winter was spent in Washington; and the entirety of winter and spring was spent traveling the world.

Her list included: "green tea, matches, teaspoon, knife, drinking cup, pocket mirror, ball of twine, and Etna.

"Her summers in Portland involved attending the Gem Theater, picnics on Cape Elizabeth, Maine, and trips to the mountains.

She moved in high social circles; she met with Alexander Graham Bell's wife, and attended a lecture by Susan B. Anthony.

[2] Sweat wrote a weekly column for a local Portland paper, the Augusta Correspondence.

She was one of three women to edit the North American Review, and also contributed to it; her first paper was issued in 1856, Ethel's Love-Life (New York, 1859), and Highways of Travel, or A Summer in Europe (Boston, 1859).

Sweat is widely known for writing the first sapphic novel in America titled Ethel’s Love Life.

Ethel's Love Life reunites radical American experimentalism with passional freedom.

If there is any power of expression in these words, it will speak to the hearts which recognize it; and if there is any charm of sentiment beneath the imperfect utterance, it lays itself at the feet of those who give it welcome.

[3] As an author, Sweat wanted Ethel, the main character of the novel, to talk in a sensual and passionate language.

This romantic rhetoric has two women personas, Lenora and Claudia, who have strange and irrevocable ties.

[3] Sweat believed that social tolerance was diminished, and that societies view of homosexuality was deviant and chaotic.

Sweat claimed that urbanization, industrialization, and immigration are three key components as to why society has these views.

Sweat recorded the weather, her friends' daily activities, and notes on world current events.

She described the marriage ceremony, and how she altered the wedding vows, which was considered very daring during this time period.

At one point during Sweat’s life, doctors believed she needed to be placed in an insane asylum.

When her husband dies her journal articles became more prevalent; she felt lonely for the ten years she survived him.

Controversial topics discussed during these meetings were solely based on culture and recreational issues; oftentimes the members all read or prepared a paper on an issue or subject they felt needed discussing and then presented it to the members of the club.

Sweat was white middle class, along with the majority of her friends, which granted her opportunities to participate in society.