Cover of Coelebs In Search of a Wife

Coelebs In Search of a Wife

by Hannah More

First published
1809
Reading level
Plain English
Price
Free

About the book

"Coelebs In Search of a Wife" by Hannah More is a novel published in 1808. A wealthy young bachelor named Coelebs seeks a bride who can meet the strict moral standards set by his late mother. The novel combined storytelling with religious instruction, becoming the first nineteenth-century novel embraced by religious readers who previously viewed fiction as disreputable. Its popularity marked a turning point in making novels acceptable to conservative audiences, though modern critics consider it notably difficult to read.

  • Didactic fiction
  • Conduct of life
  • Mate selection
  • Christian fiction

Updated September 2026. Public domain in the USA. Text and summary from Project Gutenberg eBook #31879. Coelebs In Search of a Wife on Wikipedia.

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