Mrs. Inchbald

Born Elizabeth Simpson in Suffolk in 1753, she became an actress while still young and later married the actor Joseph Inchbald. After his death, she continued working in the theatre and built a remarkable career as a playwright, novelist, and translator.

She is now best remembered for the novels A Simple Story (1791) and Nature and Art (1796), both of which attracted lasting attention for their feeling, moral tension, and lively insight into society. She also wrote and adapted many plays, drawing on her practical knowledge of stage life.

Beyond her fiction and drama, Inchbald was respected as a literary critic, especially for her work connected with The British Theatre. Her career shows an unusual range for her time: actress, dramatist, novelist, translator, and critic, all in one life.