Samuel Relf (1776 - 1823)

Samuel Relf

Samuel Relf was an American journalist and author.

Relf became known as the author of the novel Infidelity, or Victims of Sentimentality, first published in 1797 in Philadelphia. This scandalous book has been called "the first independent Philadelphia novel" to deal with the consequences of adultery. As a journalist, Relph built his work on stories from newspaper articles and in general, it was initially conceived as a magazine article. The book caused considerable controversy in post-revolutionary America.