Inchbald, Elizabeth

Inchbald, Elizabeth (1753-1821), English novelist, dramatist, and actress, born Elizabeth Simpson in Stanningfield, Suffolk. Inchbald is best known for her romances, including A Simple Story (1791) and Nature and Art (1796). She and her husband performed in plays throughout England, and in addition to her novels, Inchbald wrote plays, among them I'll Tell You What (1785). Her plays, which were often adaptations of French works, often contained elements of farce and comedy. From 1806 to 1809 Inchbald edited The British Theatre, a collection of English dramas.