Moll Flanders

The full title of Daniel Defoe's 1722 classic is The Fortunes and Misfortunes of the Famous Moll Flanders, but it is commonly known as Moll Flanders. The authors own introduction to the novel provides an excellent summary of the story: Moll Flanders, 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 dies a Penitent. Written from her own Memorandums Defoe worked as a journalist and a political pamphleteer, and is also famous for his novel Robinson Crusoe.