Charles Brockden Brown was an American novelist, historian, and editor of the Early National period.

Wieland: or, The Transformation: An American Tale, usually simply called Wieland, is the first major work by Charles Brockden Brown. First published in 1798, it distinguishes the true beginning of his career as a writer. Wieland is sometimes considered the first American Gothic novel. Wieland is often categorized under several sub-genres including gothic fiction, horror fiction, psychological fiction and epistolary fiction, which are listed at Project Gutenberg. Major themes include religious fanaticism, sensationalist psychology, and voice and perception.