Moll Flanders [antikvár]

INTRODUCTION Defoe seems to have published only one pamphlet during 1721, though he was no doubt busy writing books, which were to appear in the following year. The first edition of Moll Flanders is dated 1721, but it was not issued by the publishers, Chetwood and others, until 27 January, 1722. Its popularity is shown by the appearance of a "second edition, corrected" (printed for John Brotherton) in July, and of a third edition, again published by Chetwood, in December. By January 1723, Thomas Edlin, as we learn from an entry at Stationers' Hall, was proprietor of the whole copyright; and in July 1723 an abridged pocket edition was issued by J. Read. The full title of this remarkable book ran as follows: "The Fortunes and Misfortunes of the famous Moll Flanders, &c., 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 own brother), twelve years a Thief, eight years a transported Felon in Virginia, at last grew rich, lived honest, and died a Penitent. Written from her own Memorandums." To take this last point first, Defoe says that from prudential motives Moll Flanders could not publish her real name; and that the original narrative had been put into new words, and the style a little altered by "the pen employed in finishing her story"; and he admitted that, owing to the number of novels and romances before the public, it would "be hard for a private history to be taken for genuine" where the real names are concealed. " On this account we must be content to leave the reader to pass his own opinion upon the ensuing sheets, and take it just as he pleases." It will be seen that Defoe's testimony to the authenticity of the narrative is rather half-hearted, and efforts to trace the original of Moll Flanders have been unsuccessful. A