Moll Flanders (Broadview Editions)

Born to a petty thief in London’s notorious Newgate prison and determined to make her way in a rapacious and materialistic society, Moll Flanders recounts the “fortunes and misfortunes” of her turbulent life in this 1722 novel. Though __Moll Flanders__ was shaped by the conventions of criminal biography, Defoe also drew on other literary traditions and his own rich background to create a remarkably original―and still controversial―work. In addition to a critical introduction and substantial footnotes, this Broadview edition provides a wide range of writings by Defoe as well as contemporary responses to __Moll Flanders__. Other appendices include a selection of eighteenth-century writings on crime, prisons, and the Virginia colony. Born To A Petty Thief In London's Notorious Newgate Prison And Determined To Make Her Way In A Rapacious And Materialistic Society, Moll Flanders Recounts The Fortunes And Misfortunes Of Her Turbulent Life In This 1722 Novel. Though Moll Flanders Was Shaped By The Conventions Of Criminal Biography, Defoe Also Drew On Other Literary Traditions And His Own Rich Background To Create A Remarkably Original - And Still Controversial - Work. In Addition To A Critical Introduction And Substantial Footnotes, This Broadview Edition Provides A Wide Range Of Writings By Defoe As Well As Contemporary Responses To Moll Flanders. Other Appendices Include A Selection Of Eighteenth-century Writings On Crime, Prisons, And The Virginia Colony.--book Jacket. Daniel Defoe ; Edited By Paul A. Scanlon. Includes Bibliographical References (p. 429-437). These are the true confessions of a remarkable and passionate young woman are thought to have been based on the adventures of a real prisoner in Newgate where Moll was born. ostensibly written as a warning to wrongdoers, the moral of Defoe's candid and cautionary tale is often lost in the sheer vitality of Moll - one of the supreme characters of English comic fiction. Her fortunes and misfortunes - 'twelve years a Whore, five times a Wife (once to her own brother), twelve years a Thief, eight years a transported Felon' - plunge the reader into the exciting world of the eighteenth-century low life.