The novel was first staged as "Edith, or The Earl's Daughter" in New York in 1861 and under its own name on 26 January 1863 in Brooklyn; by March of that year, "three competing versions were drawing crowds to New York theaters." The most successful version was written by Clifton W. Tayleur for actress Lucille Western, who was paid $350 a night for her performance as Isabel Vane. Western starred in "East Lynne" for the next 10 years. At least nine adaptations were made in all, not including plays such as "The Marriage Bells" that "used a different title for the sake of some copyright protection."