Wieland was popular with the public but was derided by contemporary critics for its gimmickry and unsatisfying plot. Brown based his work off of the true story of James Yates, who murdered his family in 1781 when a hallucination of two angels convinced him it was God’s will. Godwin was a particular favorite of Brown, who was also influenced by the radical philosopher’s moral and political writings. Wieland was influenced in its themes and tone by the English gothic novels of Ann Radcliffe, Horace Walpole, and William Godwin.
Wieland is Brown’s most famous work with this novel he established himself as America’s first professional novelist and inaugurated the genre of American gothic. His fame rested partly on a pamphlet concerning women’s rights, Alcuin A Dialogue, and other contributions to Philadelphia’s Weekly Magazine. After quitting a law apprenticeship in 1793, Brown established himself in New York literary circles. Charles Brockden Brown published Wieland in 1798 when he was 27 years old.
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