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by Daniel Defoe
The Fortunes and Misfortunes of the Famous Moll Flanders who was born in Newgate, and during a life of continued variety for threescore years, besides her childhood, was twelve years a whore, five times a wife (whereof once to her brother) twelve years a thief, eight years a transported felon in Virginia, at last grew rich, lived honest and died a penitent (commonly known simply as Moll Flanders) 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.
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. The attribution of Moll Flanders to Defoe was made by bookseller Francis Noble in 1770, after Defoe's death in 1731.
The novel is based partially on the life of Moll King, a London criminal whom Defoe met while visiting Newgate Prison.
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Any "Author Information" displayed below reflects the author's biography at the time this particular book was published.
Daniel Defoe (c.1660-1731), one of the most famous writers in English literature, was born in London, the son of James Foe, a butcher. It was Daniel who changed his name to De Foe or Defoe in about 1705. He was interested in politics and opposed King James II. After the Glorious Revolution in 1688 and William III was on the throne, Defoe became one of his personal friends. He became a writer for the government and a satircal writer on various social issues of the time. He turned to full time writing after hearing the inspirational story of a sailor who was rescued after living alone on a desert island in the Pacific, the result being his first novel Robinson Crusoe,. Several other adventure stories followed, including Moll Flanders.
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