author

Student of the Temple

An early 18th-century writer who helped shape the English novel, this author mixed sharp social observation with stories of courtship, ambition, and moral change. Writing at a time when women had few literary advantages, she built a career through wit, resilience, and a keen eye for human behavior.

1 Audiobook

The Trial of Captain John Kimber, for the Murder of Two Female Negro Slaves, on Board the Recovery, African Slave Ship Tried at the Admiralty Sessions, Held at the Old Baily, the 7th of June, 1792

The Trial of Captain John Kimber, for the Murder of Two Female Negro Slaves, on Board the Recovery, African Slave Ship Tried at the Admiralty Sessions, Held at the Old Baily, the 7th of June, 1792

by Student of the Temple

About the author

Born in Ireland in the 1670s, Mary Davys became known as a novelist and playwright whose work bridged Restoration storytelling and the emerging English novel. Much about her early life remains uncertain, but after the death of her husband she supported herself through writing and later ran a coffee house before settling in Cambridge.

Davys wrote with energy and intelligence about relationships, reputation, and the social pressures faced by women and men alike. Her best-known works include The Reform'd Coquet and The Accomplish'd Rake, books noted for their lively plots and interest in character reform rather than simple moralizing.

She is remembered as one of the important early women writers in English prose fiction. Even now, her stories stand out for their humor, practical sense, and close attention to the risks and compromises of everyday social life.