Massachusetts native Mercy Otis Warren (1728–1814) was the sister of James Otis and the wife of James Warren. She was also active in the patriot cause during the Revolution. Her home was a regular meeting place for Revolutionary leaders, and John and Abigail Adams were among her circle of friends. Warren’s play The Adulateur, published anonymously in 1772, was a scathing attack on Britain’s treatment of America. She followed up with a series of similar (and also anonymous) political pieces, before publishing a book of poetry under...