Mary Brunton started to write her first novel, Self-Control in 1809 and it was published in 1811. One admirer was Charlotte Barrett (1786?1870), niece of the novelists Fanny Burney and Sarah Burney and mother of the writer Julia Maitland. Writing to Sarah on 17 May 1811, she commented, I read Self-Control and like it extremely all except some vulgarity meant to be jocular which tired me to death, but I think the principal character charming and well supported and the book really gives good...
