Sarah Scott

Sarah Robinson Scott (1720-1795), the author of novels, biographies, and histories, was born to many advantages of education and upbringing that made her a writer. But without a strong desire for financial independence, she might never have become a professional author. She saw a great advantage in being unmarried because only unmarried women were free to work toward their own ends. This theme was to be incorporated into her first novel and best known work, A Description of Millenium Hall (1762). The History of Sir George Ellison (1766) is a sequel to Millenium Hall. In it, Sir George, a visitor to the Hall, follows the pattern of the female utopia set forth in the earlier novel. Scott addresses issues of slavery, marriage, education, law and social justice, class pretensions, and the position of women in society. Throughout the book Scott consistently emphasizes the importance, for both genders and all classes and ages, of devoting one's life and most of one's time to meaningful work.

Millenium Hall is an elegant mansion, surrounded by fragrant pastures and hedgerows of hyacinths and primroses. In this idyllic setting live six women of independent means who have eschewed the falsehoods of society and come together to establish a utopian community. Their backgrounds are very different but a common spirit unites them: all have rejected the image of woman as chattel, choosing instead to devote themselves to a co-operative life founded on female friendship and support.