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Mary Robinson
1758–1800
A brilliant and often surprising voice of the late eighteenth century, this writer moved from the London stage to a fiercely independent literary career. Her poems, novels, and memoirs blend glamour, sharp feeling, and a clear-eyed sense of how women were judged in her time.
2 Audiobooks
Mrs. Mary Robinson, Written by Herself,
by Mary Robinson, Mrs. A. T. Thomson, Philip Wharton
Lyrical tales
by Mary Robinson
About the author
Born in Bristol in 1758, Mary Robinson became known first as an actress. Her performance as Perdita in The Winter's Tale made her famous, and the nickname stayed with her for the rest of her life. Public attention followed her closely, but she turned that notoriety into a literary career of unusual range.
Robinson wrote poetry, novels, plays, political commentary, and memoirs. She published widely in the 1790s and was admired for her wit, emotional intensity, and ability to write across different styles and subjects. Modern readers often value her not only as a gifted poet and novelist, but also as a writer who spoke vividly about fame, money, illness, love, and the limited choices available to women.
She died in 1800, but her reputation has lasted because her life and work feel strikingly modern. Behind the celebrity image was a prolific professional author who kept writing through hardship and helped shape the literary culture of her age.