Moll Flanders - Daniel Defoe

Moll Flanders By Daniel Defoe The first time I read Moll Flanders I hated it so much that it took me three weeks to finish it, although it's a 400-page novel, more or less. It was a part of my course, then, and I wanted to read it before studying it in class, to be prepared. I saw no use whatsoever in reading about a girl who steals and works in prostitution to make her living. However, when it was explained by the excellent tutor who taught us fiction back then, I started to understand and appreciate it, and I read it two more times. In the eighteenth century England, women used to give money to men just to impregnate them in ...  Read the complete review

Full review -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Moll Flanders, the full title is "The fortunes and misfortunes of the famous Moll Flanders who was born in Newgate, and during a life of continu'd variety for threescore years besides her childhood, was a Whore, five times a wife (whereof once to her own brother) twelve Year a thief, eight year a transported Felon on Virginia, at last grew Rich, liv'd Honest and died a Penitent) written from her own memorandums." That's quite a title eh?? Published in 1722 when the writer Daniel Defoe was 62 this novel was way ahead of its time. ...  Read the complete review

Especially given the sexed-up adaptation that Granada trotted out, 'Moll Flanders' has a racy reputation, sometimes bracketed with straight-out soft-porn as 'Fanny Hill'. There is a lot of off-page sex in the book - you lose count of how many chaps pass Moll's way before the end. and she even marries her long lost brother at one point. Moll is a deeply amoral character who gets involved in thieving and prostitution, and is even at one point tempted to murder a small child for the sake of a necklace it was wearing. Narrating from advanced years, and having allegedly repented her sinful past, Moll's story is a race through seventeenth ...  Read the complete review

Moll Flanders is shunned by society. Born in a prison in London in the 18th century, her mother has abandoned her and she never knew her father. History buffs among you will already have spotted that in Moll?s time women?s rights were not exactly flourishing, their prime was yet to come. Our heroine quickly learns that if she wants to get anywhere in life, she can?t depend on others, who will let her down or betray her. No, our Moll is alone with only her dazzling good looks and her wily charms to get her through. This passionate woman turns to thieving, prostitution, bigamy and incest throughout her life, and in between is married no less than five times. A story of wit ...  Read the complete review

First appearing in writing in 1722, MOLL FLANDERS is a novel written in the first person by Daniel Defoe. The plot focuses on Moll's life as she is born in seventeenth century London. From here we see different sections of her life. She is abandoned when just a baby so has to live life on her own. Fortunantly for Moll she is an attractive woman whose looks, intelligence and wit mean she has no trouble attracting men. During the novel Moll marries numerous times, commits incest and becomes a whore. Most interestingly though is the part where Moll becomes a thief and her life of crime leads her to prison. Moll also discovers she has a long lost brother who she ...  Read the complete review