Charles Brockden Brown

Pioneering American novelist: Lived in the late 18th and early 19th century (1771-1810), Brown is considered a major figure in American literature, particularly for his novels. Some scholars even hail him as the most important American novelist before James Fenimore Cooper [Wikipedia].Gothic touch: Brown's novels are known for their gothic elements, incorporating suspense, mystery, and elements of the supernatural. This helped lay the foundation for the works of later American literary giants like Edgar Allan Poe and Nathaniel Hawthorne [Britannica].Prolific writer: While novels are his claim to fame, Brown was a well-rounded writer. He also wrote short stories, essays, historical pieces, and even dabbled in poetry [Wikipedia].Early American intellectual: Brown was a man of his times, very much engaged with the cultural and intellectual movements of the early American republic. His writings reflect this engagement [Charles Brockden Brown Society Website].