 | This article possibly contains original research. (April 2020) |
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| Author | Daniel Defoe |
|---|---|
| Language | English |
| Genre | Novel, picaresque |
| Set in | England and Virginia Colony, 1613–1683 |
| Published | 1722 |
| Publisher | William Rufus Chetwood |
| Publication place | Kingdom of Great Britain |
| Media type | Print: octavo |
| Pages | xiii, 424 |
| OCLC | 702355312 |
| 823.5 | |
| LC Class | PR3404.M6 |
| Text | The Fortunes and Misfortunes of the Famous Moll Flanders at Wikisource |
Moll Flanders[a] is a novel by Daniel Defoe, first published in 1722. It purports to be the true account of the life of the eponymous Moll, detailing her exploits from birth until old age.
By 1721, Defoe had become a recognised novelist, with the success of Robinson Crusoe in 1719. His political work was tapering off at this point, due to the fall of both Whig and Tory party leaders with whom he had been associated; Robert Walpole was beginning his rise, and Defoe was never fully at home with Walpole's group. Defoe's Whig views are nevertheless evident in the story of Moll, and the novel's full title gives some insight into this and the outline of the plot.[1]
It is usually assumed that the novel was written by Daniel Defoe, and his name is commonly given as the author in modern printings of the novel. However, the original printing did not have an author, as it was an apparent autobiography.[2] The attribution of Moll Flanders to Defoe was made by bookseller Francis Noble in 1770, after Defoe's death in 1731.[3] The novel is based partially on the life of Moll King, a London criminal whom Defoe met while visiting Newgate Prison.
Historically, the book was occasionally the subject of police censorship.[4]
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- ^ Defoe, Daniel (1722). The fortunes and misfortunes of the famous Moll Flanders, &c. 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. Eighteenth Century Collections Online: W. Chetwood.
- ^ "Title Page for 'Moll Flanders' by Daniel Defoe, published 1722". PBS LearningMedia. Retrieved 30 October 2017.
- ^ Furbank and Owens "The Canonisation of Daniel Defoe" (1988); "Defoe De-Attributions" (1994) and "A Critical Bibliography of Daniel Defoe" (1998)
- ^ Peter Coleman, "Censorship: Publish and Be Damned." Media International Australia 150.1 (2014): 36–40.