Catharine Maria Sedgwick Catharine Maria Sedgwick was born to a prominent New England family in 1789 and went on to become one of the most celebrated novelists of her time. A proud patriot, Sedgwick chronicled the major social issues of early American society--slavery, religous freedom, women's rights, and the ongoing struggle between native and foreign forces--with a unique mix of radical and conservative perspectives. She died in 1867. Read More Read Less