''Ormond; Or, The Secret Witness'' is a 1799 political and

social novel Social organisms, including human(s), live collectively in interacting populations. This interaction is considered social whether they are aware of it or not, and whether the exchange is voluntary or not. Etymology The word "social" derives fro ...

by American writer

Charles Brockden Brown Charles Brockden Brown (January 17, 1771 – February 22, 1810) was an American novelist, historian, and magazine editor, editor of the Early National period. Brown is regarded by some scholars as the most important American novelist before J ...

. The novel thematically focuses on the ways in which individuals change in reaction to their social environments. The novel follows a female protagonist Constantia and her relationship with the mysterious Ormond, who is also the title character. The novel thoroughly explores

Republicanism in the United States The values and ideals of republicanism are foundational in the constitution and history of the United States. As the United States constitution prohibits granting titles of nobility, ''republicanism'' in this context does not refer to a ...

and the republican values common to the early American nation.

References

Project Gutenberg

1799 novels American gothic novels 18th-century American novels Novels by Charles Brockden Brown {{18thC-gothic-novel-stub