Tabitha Gilman Tenney

Tabitha Gilman Tenney (1762–1837) was an early American author from Exeter, New Hampshire.

[1][2][3] Literary historian F. L. Patee has described Female Quixotism (1801) as the most popular novel written in America prior to the publication of Uncle Tom's Cabin in 1852.

Female Quixotism went through at least five editions and was still in print when Harriet Beecher Stowe wrote her landmark book.

A quote from page 23 of her book shows signs of an early feminist attitude: "Those enemies to female improvement thought a woman had no business with any book but the bible, or perhaps the art of cookery; believing that everything beyond these served only to disqualify her for the duties of domestic life.

[5] Their house originally stood next door to the town hall and courthouse, but was moved, and currently stands at 65 High Street.