Charlotte Temple: A Tale of Truth, written by Susanna Rowson (1762-1824) and published in 1791, is a cautionary Sentimentalist novel about Charlotte Temple, an upper-middle-class 15-year-old girl living in England. She leaves her family and home to follow a soldier, who promises to marry her, to the United States. However, Charlotte is betrayed by her companions, which leads to her untimely death. Although the novel did not perform well when originally published in England, the 1794 version, released in the newly formed United States, was widely popular and was considered the first popular novel in the country (Parker, Patricia. “‘Charlotte Temple’: America’s First Best Seller.” 1976). A sequel to Charlotte Temple, Lucy Temple, was published posthumously in 1828, four years after Rowson’s death.

This guide uses the digitized version of Charlotte Temple (1791) published in 1900 by the Henry Altemus Company.

Content Warning: The source material for this guide contains depictions of violence and suicidal ideation. Additionally, the source material uses outdated and misogynistic depictions of women.

Plot Summary

In England, two soldiers, Montraville and Belcour, are walking together when they see a group of schoolgirls leaving a church. Montraville catches the eye of Charlotte Temple, whom he met two years earlier, when she was 13. Charlotte is the daughter of Mr. Temple and his wife, Lucy. Mr. Temple had been taken to Lucy’s imprisoned father, Eldridge, to offer him assistance. Eldridge had a son, George, whose commission had been paid by a friend, Lewis. Lewis tried to pursue Lucy, and when Eldridge stopped him, he demanded repayment for George’s commission. Eldridge could not pay and was imprisoned. His son was fatally wounded when he confronted Lewis, and he died shortly before Mrs. Eldridge passed away from chronic illness and stress. Mr. Temple mortgaged his house to pay Eldridge’s debts; he then married Lucy, and he, Lucy, and Eldridge moved into a cottage together. Lucy and Mr. Temple had one daughter, Charlotte, and they sent her to school to finish her education.

Back in the narrative present, Montraville goes to Charlotte’s school to see her, but as he is waiting outside, he reflects on his circumstances. He is about to be posted to the United States and is in no position to court Charlotte, so he decides to leave without talking to her; however, before he goes, Charlotte and a teaching assistant, Mademoiselle La Rue, walk out into the garden. He talks to Charlotte and gives her a letter and then Charlotte and Mademoiselle La Rue go to a party. Charlotte is disappointed by the immoral party, and she talks to Mademoiselle La Rue, who calls Charlotte a prude and then encourages her to read the letter from Montraville. The next night, she and Mademoiselle La Rue meet Montraville and Belcour. They continue to meet for a week, and Montraville asks Charlotte to elope with him to the United States. Mademoiselle La Rue and Belcour aid Montraville in pressuring Charlotte, and she tentatively agrees to go; however, she receives a letter from her mother explaining that Eldridge is coming to get her for a birthday party Lucy has organized. Charlotte resolves not to go, but agrees to meet with Montraville that night and explain why she is not going with. When the meeting takes place, Montraville and the others coerce Charlotte into leaving; her confidence wavers, and Montraville puts her into the carriage and drives away. Eldridge arrives the next morning to get Charlotte, and they discover she is missing. Several hours later, the headmistress, Madame Du Pont, receives a letter explaining what has happened. Eldridge returns to deliver the news. Meanwhile, Montraville suggests Charlotte write a letter to her family, but he destroys it instead of mailing it.

The ship departs, and Charlotte develops severe sea sickness. Mademoiselle La Rue breaks off with Belcour and pursues Colonel Crayton, who proposes to her and marries her shortly after they arrive in New York. Montraville rents a cottage outside the city for Charlotte, but, losing interest, he does not often visit her. He meets a wealthy, independent woman, Julia Franklin, but does not feel comfortable courting her while he is responsible for Charlotte, who is pregnant. Mrs. Beauchamp, Charlotte’s neighbor and Colonel Crayton’s daughter, befriends Charlotte and encourages Charlotte to write to her parents and ask to come home. Belcour, wanting to sleep with Charlotte, begins visiting her and tells Montraville that she is unfaithful. He sneaks into her bed before Montraville visits her. Montraville leaves and marries Julia. He gives money and a letter of explanation to Belcour to pass along to Charlotte, but Belcour destroys the letter and keeps the money for himself, hoping that, if Charlotte is dependent on him, she will sleep with him.

Charlotte’s mood and physical health decline, and Belcour loses interest and abandons her. Mrs. Beauchamp had been called away, so she is alone. The owners of the cottage demand rent and kick Charlotte out when she cannot pay. Heavily pregnant in the middle of winter, she walks to New York City and seeks help from Mademoiselle La Rue, now Mrs. Crayton. Mrs. Crayton feigns ignorance and sends Charlotte away, but her servant, John, pities Charlotte and takes her to his house. There, she gives birth to her daughter then becomes deliriously ill. The doctor goes to Mrs. Beauchamp in search of charity for Charlotte, and Mrs. Beauchamp, not knowing the ill woman is Charlotte, agrees.

Mrs. Beauchamp is shocked when she realizes the woman is Charlotte, and she does her best to make Charlotte and her new daughter, Lucy, comfortable. Although Charlotte appears better the next day, the doctor says that it is a surge before death. When Charlotte’s strength declines, Mrs. Beauchamp sends for the clergyman. Mr. Temple, who had received Charlotte’s letter and has come to take her home, arrives. Charlotte hands Lucy to him, asks him to protect the infant, and dies. Montraville returns to the city and desperately searches for Charlotte. He finds the funeral procession, and a soldier explains that the deceased is a young woman who was betrayed. Montraville confesses to Mr. Temple, kills Belcour out of revenge, and spends his life feeling guilty and visiting Charlotte’s grave. The Temple’s take in Lucy and raise her. Years later, while they are in London, they come across Mademoiselle La Rue, who has been abandoned by her husband and has succumbed to poverty and illness. She confesses her role in Charlotte’s demise, and Mr. Temple shelters her then finds her space in a hospital, where she dies.