Publisher's Synopsis
Leonora Sansay (1773-1821) was an American novelist best known for her autobiogaphical work Secret History, first published in 1808. This was followed by Laura (1809) and possibly three further novels - Zelica: The Creole (London, 1820), The Scarlet Handkerchief (London, 1823), and The Stranger in Mexico (not extant). She was born Honora Davern in Philadelphia and her father died at sea a few weeks after her birth. In 1779 her mother remarried and went on to have two more children. Leonora's stepfather ran a tavern opposite the State House in Philadelphia which was frequented by local politicians and members of Congress. At some point in the mid- to late 1790s she became acquainted with Aaron Burr, a politician and lawyer who went on to serve as Vice President from 1801-05 during Thomas Jefferson's first term, and he became her confidant and patron. In the Secret History Leonora claims that Burr convinced her to marry Louis Sansay, then a New York merchant having fled his plantation in the French colony of Saint-Domingue (now Haiti) due to a massive slave uprising. In early 1802 Sansay made plans to return in order to reclaim his property and sent Leonora to Washington to obtain letters of recommendation and a passport from Burr. She remained with Burr for some months but in May or June set sail with her husband for Haiti, continuing to correspond with Burr, and it is these letters that form the basis of Secret History, describing the final days of French rule on the island. After leaving Haiti the Sansays lived in Cuba but Louis's insufferable jealousy and increasing violence led Leonara to flee, making her way to Jamaica en route back to Philadelphia where she continued to play a part in Burr's life. It is not known when she travelled to England, or for what reason, but this is where she died and is buried.
