Publisher's Synopsis
Moll Flanders is a novel written by Daniel Defoe, first published in 1722. The book tells the story of Moll Flanders, a woman born in Newgate Prison, who goes on to lead a life of crime and deception. Moll is a survivor, and she uses her wits and charm to navigate the dangerous world of 18th century England. She becomes a thief, a prostitute, and a bigamist, and she is constantly on the run from the law. Despite her many misdeeds, Moll is a sympathetic character, and the reader is drawn into her world of poverty, crime, and desperation. The novel is a commentary on the social and economic conditions of the time, and it explores themes of love, money, and morality. Moll Flanders is considered one of the first novels in the English language, and it remains a classic of English literature to this day.1903. English novelist, pamphleteer, and journalist, Defoe is best remembered for his novel Robinson Crusoe, a story of a man shipwrecked alone on an island. Along with Samuel Richardson, Defoe is considered the founder of the English novel. He is also the only man to be pilloried to go on to become a national hero. Defoe's choice of a female protagonist in Moll Flanders reflected his interest in the female experience. Moll is born in Newgate, where her mother is under sentence of death for theft. Her sentence is commuted to transportation to Virginia. The abandoned child is educated by a gentlewoman. Moll suffers romantic disillusionment, when she is ruined at the hands of a cynical male seducer. She becomes a whore and a thief, but finally she gains the status of a gentlewoman through the spoils of a successful colonial plantation. See other titles by this author available from Kessinger Publishing.This scarce antiquarian book is a facsimile reprint of the old original and may contain some imperfections such as library marks and notations. Because we believe this work is culturally important, we have made it available as part of our commitment for protecting, preserving, and promoting the world's literature in affordable, high quality, modern editions, that are true to their original work.
