The History of Lucy Temple is Susanna Rowson's last book. It was published posthumously. Susana died in 1824 and the book was published four years later as it was discovered after her death. The book's main theme is suffering. The characters portrayed come from every walk of life and suffer from spiritual, psychological, familial and financial problems. The book is a sequel of Susana's best-selling moves Charlotte Temple. Lucy is an illegitimate daughter of Charlotte.
The novel is filled with miseries. Lucy has a friend called Mary Lumbley. Her husband died during a duel and her child also died. Lucy had a lover named John Franklin whom she could be married as we were his half-brother. Ironically the ending word of the book is happiness. After Lucy found out his lover's identity, she found a seminary for women. The author may have found out that the only way of achieving happiness is through suffering. After losing Lucy, Franklin goes to a battlefield and passes away. Men women both are supposed to suffer a lot but women have a chance of achieving happiness through philanthropy. Both Lucy and Franklin turn towards holy deeds and good deeds but it is only Lucy who gains happiness in the end.
The world is a tragic place is her last novel as spoken by Mathews and the two other orphans that it is not possible to attain happiness in this harsh world. The language of the book suggests vaguely that the result of the suffering comes after death only. It must be experienced and only Almighty God can transcend it if there is any chance of getting redemption and happiness.
