The Injur'd Husband and Lasselia

Exploring themes of desire and morality, the anti-heroine in this work challenges societal expectations of women's behavior in marriage. The story contrasts her with a virtuous heroine who, despite resisting royal advances, succumbs to passion and ultimately faces ruin through an affair. Eliza Haywood, a pioneering female author in 18th-century England, crafted these tales of intrigue that captivated and provoked controversy. Her contributions, alongside those of contemporaries like Daniel Defoe, significantly shaped the emerging market for fiction during this era.