Moll Flanders

Moll Flanders is a book by Daniel Defoe, first published in 1722. Written in the wake of Defoe’s success with Robinson Crusoe, this novel is a picaresque tale chronicling the tumultuous life of its protagonist, born in Newgate Prison and driven by poverty, wit, and survival.

Through marriages, crime, transportation, and repentance, Moll’s life unfolds against the backdrop of eighteenth-century England and colonial America. Defoe crafts the narrative as a fictional autobiography, giving Moll an unflinchingly candid voice that explores the intersections of morality, class, and gender in a rapidly changing society.

The book’s enduring legacy lies in its complex treatment of a female protagonist who is neither wholly villain nor victim. Moll navigates a world where opportunities for women are scarce, using whatever means she can — including deception and theft — to secure her independence.

Often cited as an early example of the English novel, Moll Flanders blends realism, social commentary, and spiritual reflection in a way that was innovative for its time. It remains a rich source for understanding the social structures of the early eighteenth century and the beginnings of the novel form in English literature.