A Narrative of the Life Mrs. Charlotte Charke

Charlotte Charke, the estranged daughter of British poet laureate Colley Cibber, was an 18th century actress, playwright, novelist and noted transvestite. In this scandalous memoir, Charke recounts her extraordinary double life as "Charles Brown," her career on stage in "breeches roles," and her misadventures as a doctor, shopkeeper, sausage merchant, valet, groom, puppeteer, pastry cook, and tavern owner. She describes her painful separation from her father and her struggle with poverty in the era of debtors' prison. Dedicated to herself, A Narrative of the Life of Mrs. Charlotte Charke is at once witty and eccentric, colorful and enigmatic, and establishes its author as one of the great transgressive figures of her time.

In this picaresque novel, Charlotte Clarke recalls her life as an actress, and in particular, the difficulties facing a woman trying to make her way in a man's world. The issues of women's writing, education, motherhood, sexuality, and cross-dressing all come under scrutiny. In this picaresque novel, Charlotte Clarke recalls her life as an actress, and in particular, the difficulties facing a woman trying to make her way in a man's world. The issues of women's writing, education, motherhood, sexuality, and cross-dressing all come under scrutiny.