Born 1748 (Campbeltown, Scotland)

Died June 25, 1816 (Carlisle, Pennsylvania)

Author

Hugh Henry Brackenridge's literary works reflect the mood and thoughts of late-eighteenth century America. His best-known work, Modern Chivalry, is one of the first novels written in the United States. It is an important example of both American satire (literary parody) and Western literature. Brackenridge also wrote short fiction stories, poetry, and essays, and he collaborated on two theatrical dramas. He wrote in the period between the end of the American Revolution (1775–83) and the beginning of the nineteenth century, a time when few other American writers were producing new literature. His work is notable for this reason and for the revolutionary ideals it expressed of individual freedoms from governmental control in politics as well as in art.

Brackenridge worked at various times as a judge, a politician, and a publisher, so most of his writing was...