Frances Trollope mother of the great Victorian novelist Anthony Trollope wrote more than 40 books in her lifetime including provocative landmark novels dealing with important social issues. Today however she's best known for her witty entertaining and controversial account of American life and culture  Domestic Manners of the Americans. First published in 1832 this travel classic presents a lively portrait of early nineteenth-century America as observed by a woman of rare intelligence and keen perception.

Mrs. Trollope left no stone unturned commenting on American dress food speech politics manners customs the landscape architecture and more often critically occasionally admiringly but always with considerable insight and fine literary flair.