Cummins, Maria S.

Maria S. Cummins (b. 9 April 1827, d. 1 Oct. 1866, Dorchester) was a writer known for her sentimental domestic novels, her most famous being Lamplighter.

Published in 1854, The Lamplighter was extremely popular, proving an immediate best-seller. The average sales during the first two months was five thousand copies a week, and by the end of the first year, it had sold 70,000 copies. She wrote three more novels, none as popular as her first.

Though born in Salem, after her father's death, she moved to Dorchester and died there prematurely at age 39.

See Also

• Vertical File in Salem Collection - Cummins, Maria Susanna

• American Women Writers ed. by L. Mainiero, p.436-7

• A scribbling woman from Salem D. Seger "Streets of Salem"