Moll Flanders
by Daniel Defoe
After the success of his 1719 novel Robinson Crusoe, Daniel Defoe wrote Moll Flanders, a novel in the popular "criminal biography" genre which contends for the longest full title in all of literature, being:The Fortunes and Misfortunes of the Famous Moll Flanders, Etc. Who Was Born In Newgate, and During a Life of Continu'd Variety For Threescore Years, Besides Her Childhood, Was Twelve Year a Whore, Five Times a Wife [Whereof Once To Her Own Brother], Twelve Year a Thief, Eight Year a Transported Felon In Virginia, At Last Grew Rich, Liv'd Honest, and Died a Penitent.
Written from her own Memorandums.The upshot of the long-winded title is a plot reveal, though left out is the following: Moll's mother is set to be executed in a British jail, and is released because she's pregnant; mom moves to America, where Moll is left to foster parents, and because she's destitute pretends to be a wealthy widow to try to get men of means to marry her. Awesome plot twists ensue! Defoe's classic brilliantly captures themes of "social mobility, predestination, sin, redemption and reward."
Books by Daniel Defoe
Related Genres
AdventureMystery
Novels