The text examines the life of one of the most flamboyant women of the late-eighteenth century Mary Robinson's life was marked by reversals of fortune After being raised by a middle-class father, Mary was married at the age of fourteen to Thomas Robinson His dissipated lifestyle landed the couple and their baby in the debtors' prison Here Mary wrote her first book of poetry and met lifelong friend Georgiana, the Duchess of Devonshire On her release, Mary became one of the most popular actresses of the day, famously playing Perdita in The Winter's Tale for a rapt audience that included the Prince of Wales, who fell madly in love with her