The first significant novel by a woman was published in 1771 under the title "History of Miss von Sternheim." It was released under the name of a male editor, behind whom the woman stepped back as the author. A woman around 1800 was not supposed to write, as being an author also meant existing in the public sphere. Women, especially those from the upper middle class, were confined to their domestic roles as wives, housewives, and mothers. This work therefore examines what opportunities female authors had around 1800 to be active as writers while preserving their femininity. It distinguishes between textual strategies and personal concealment strategies. Finally, it aims to explain why the works of female authors from around 1800 are known to only a few readers today, while also contributing to the rediscovery of the first generation of women writers.