A review by sarahwiltshire
Moll Flanders by Daniel Defoe

adventurous challenging dark emotional hopeful informative tense slow-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? It's complicated
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.0

A recommendation from a friend plus reading some of the 'classics' this year, led me to choosing 'Moll Flanders'. Fascinating that a 18th century male author could create such an insightful female lead. A tad long, with small writing this was nevertheless a compelling book about how women of the 'lower orders' often had to survive on their wits, with the ever present threat of poverty, maltreatment and misfortune. Never sentimental, Moll's journey through life was every bit as good as following Dickens' characters 100+ years later.