Ormond; or, the Secret Witness (published in 1799), was written by Pennsylvania-born writer Charles Brockden Brown. In many ways, Ormond is a book about the ideals of the American founding. Throughout the book, Brown contends with some of the most pressing issues plaguing his time. Most prominently, Brown touches on ideas like Republicanism (support for a system of government that values liberty and civic virtue) and nation-building, which were incredibly important less than two decades after the ratification of the U.S. Constitution. He traces those ideas to the nation itself, which he saw firsthand struggling to get its feet under itself because people had a hard time finding success materially and economically. Brown also explores ideas related to feminism and women's rights, the nature of violence, and the period's stances on marriage and gender roles.
Although Brown is often considered to be the first American novelist and his book is in the public domain, Ormond; or, the Secret Witness, is not widely known outside literary circles. Still, Ormond; or, the Secret Witness, is still in print, indicating its enduring appeal.
