A Lady of Quality by Frances Hodgson Burnett A Lady of Quality is a novel by Frances Hodgson Burnett that was the second highest best-selling book in the United States in 1896. It was the first of series of successful historical novels by Burnett. In addition to a play version of the novel, which debuted in 1897 featuring Julia Arthur, silent-film adaptations were released in 1913 and 1924.