The Belle’s Strategem was Mrs. Hannah Cowley’s most successful play. First produced by David Garrick at the Drury Lane Theatre in 1780 to an audience including the mega-fan Queen Charlotte. This copy of the play was published in London for a 1782 production at the Theatre Royal in Covent Garden, starring Miss Yonge and is dedicated “to The Queen” from H. Cowley explaining to her "In the following Comedy, my purpose was, to draw a FEMALE CHARACTER, which with the most lively sensibility, fine Understanding, and elegant Accomplishments, should unite the beautiful Reserve and Delicacy which, whilst they veil those charms, render them more interesting.”

Hannah Cowley’s was a bookseller’s daughter and she married a bookseller’s son, her writing interest was fostered by her environment, and her husband’s small earnings allowed her for room to write. Her plays, in terms of female characters and focus, are considered ahead of their time. The renown actress Ellen Terry loved playing The Belle’s Stratagem’s protagonist, Letitia Hardy. Despite its enormous success in its day, it is rarely performed or revived.

London: T. Cadell, 1782. First edition. 84 pages. 21 x 13.5 x 1cm. Brown paper wraps with handwritten label to spine “Cowley (Mrs) Belles Stratagem- 1782.” Some slight foxing, 3 small intact tears to bottom of pages, age toning to cover and fore edges, old repair to top of title page as seen. In good condition.