pIThe History of Miss Betsy ThoughtlessI 1751 is a novel by Eliza Haywood. Blending tragedy and comedy Haywood explores the intersection of ambition family and desire to reveal how women so often fall victim to the whims of men. IThe History of Miss Betsy ThoughtlessI has been recognized as one of the first novels in English literature to depict the development of an independent heroine as well as to move away from the more popular genre of amatory fiction toward the marriage plot. Widely read in the eighteenth century Haywood influenced such authors as Fanny Burney and Jane Austen. Having completed her education at an allgirls boarding school Betsy Thoughtless moves to the city of London. For the first time she finds herself thrust into the orbit of young and marriageable men whose attention and affections she craves though remains cautious to reciprocate. Betsy knows the dangers inherent to sexual improprietypregnancy out of wedlock would all but guarantee her a life of poverty and misfortune not to mention the shame it would bring to her aristocratic family. Despite these pressures Betsy finds a way to enjoy single life while learning to recognize the signs of deceitful unworthy men. When marriage does come she soon realizes the institution is far from perfect. Unhappy she grows as a person and looks for a way to regain her former independence. With a beautifully designed cover and professionally typeset manuscript this edition of Eliza Haywoods IThe History of Miss Betsy ThoughtlessI is a classic of English literature reimagined for modern readers.p