Sansay, Leonora (fl. 1807–1823)

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Sansay, Leonora (fl. 1807–1823)

American novelist. Name variations: Madame D'Auvergne. Fl. between 1807 and 1823; born Leonora Mary Hassall, probably early 1780s; dau. of Philadelphia innkeeper William Hassall; m. Louis Sansay (French businessman), 1800.

Began a romantic and intellectual relationship with Aaron Burr (c. 1796), which lasted around 20 years; moved with husband to St. Dominique (later Haiti, 1802), but fled because of expulsions of whites by black revolutionaries (1804); as Madame D'Auvergne, was said to be involved in Burr's alleged conspiracy; anonymously published novels Secret History, or, The Horrors of St. Domingo, in a Series of Letters Written by a Lady of Cap Francois, to Colonel Burr (1808) and Laura (1809). A revised version of Secret History was discovered in 20th century under title Zelica, the Creole (1820), containing a reference to 2 other novels not extant: The Scarlet Handkerchief and The Stranger in Mexico.