What is considered the first American novel, published in 1789?

The Power of Sympathy is widely considered the first American novel, and it was published in 1789. Written by William Hill Brown, the book appeared in Boston on January 21, 1789, through publisher Isaiah Thomas.

The novel is written in letters, making it an epistolary work. Its plot explores seduction, secrecy, family relationships, emotional consequences, and the need for moral education. Those themes reflect the period’s interest in sentimental fiction, a style that used intense feeling and personal correspondence to teach ethical lessons.

The book was initially published anonymously. Because its story resembled a scandal involving a prominent Boston family, readers incorrectly attributed it to Sarah Wentworth Apthorp Morton. Brown’s authorship was not firmly identified until 1894. The title “first American novel” is a conventional one rather than an uncontested fact: scholars debate how to define an American novel and whether earlier prose works qualify. Even so, The Power of Sympathy is the standard answer to this quiz question.