Moll Flanders

By: Daniel Defoe

Narrated by: Davina Porter

One of the most determined, energetic, and lusty heroines in all of English literature, Daniel Defoe's Moll Flanders will do anything to avoid poverty. Born in Newgate Prison, she was for 12 years a whore, five times a wife (once to her own brother), 12 years a thief, and eight years a transported felon in Virginia before finally escaping from the life of immorality and wickedness imposed on her by society. She is as much a survivor and just as resourceful as Defoe's other great literary creation, Robinson Crusoe.

Celebrated as "a masterpiece of characterization" by E. M. Forster, Moll Flanders is both a cunning examination of social mores and a hugely entertaining story filled with scandalous sexual and criminal adventures. In Moll, Defoe created a character of limitless interest, in spite of her unconcealed ethical shortcomings. Taking Moll through the echelons of 18th-century English society, Defoe seldom moralizes as he champions the personal qualities of self-reliance, perseverance, and hard work - even when it takes the form of crime.

Public Domain (P)2010 Tantor

I don't even know if this is a joke

My spinning head seems to think it's a merry-go-round of a woman marrying everyone she sees, having vanishing babies, repeat.

Absolutely loved the literature and the narrator

I am not easily impressed, but this book and the narrator were excellent. I especially enjoyed the cadence in Ms. Porter's voice. I love the way she said brother hmmm husband and WHORE. Her narration made a good book great! Well done. A treat for any Audible listener.

Great performance

What did you like best about Moll Flanders? What did you like least?

This book has a good story, but it did not grab me, and take hold like a great story does. Davina Porter is wonderful and makes up for it with her reading.

Would you recommend Moll Flanders to your friends? Why or why not?

Yes, just to here Davina Porter.

What about Davina Porter’s performance did you like?

5 stars

Was Moll Flanders worth the listening time?

yes

Fascinating!

Any additional comments?

It is difficult to believe that this audacious novel was written by the same author as Robinson Crusoe, that classic among all that is definitely traditional and even somewhat staid!
Here, a very independent minded woman pretends to tell us her life story marked with bigamy, theft, incest, embezzlements, etc.

Since the overall plot is described from the start, the whole suspense lies in how what is announced will actually fit in (it does).

The novel may be read at multiple levels since the degree of truthfulness on the narrator’s part is of course questionable given that she tells the reader about her life based on deceiving others.

She certainly seems completely amoral and her single motivation appears to be money. Thus, in very modern fashion, her loyalties vary according to her own interest. For much of the work, she complains that she has no friend but has no qualms time and again to abandon her own children. She does develop a very close relationship with another woman, although it seems to be somewhat unidirectional in her favour. If it was as intimate as one may deduce, it certainly would have been completely scandalous in her days. Although the author does not shy away from providing precise details in many instances, he remains elusive on this account.

This enthralling work written three centuries ago is very pertinent today and warmly recommended to all (adult) readers.

good listen

overall not a bad book. the narrator constantly got quiet at the end of sentences. and it was hard to hear her sometimes. but not terrible. I've heard worse.

Another great classic!!

Would you recommend this audiobook to a friend? If so, why?

It's a great marathon read. Very entertaining.

What about Davina Porter’s performance did you like?

Wonderful job with the characters!!! She did an awesome job with the voice of Moll Flanders, as well as, the countless other characters she portrayed.

Was this a book you wanted to listen to all in one sitting?

No, it's a long story.

what a gal

What a great character! I've heard the name over the years, but never had a frame of reference for it. It's amazing to imagine the challenges of the times, societal rules, etc. Even by today's standards, "Moll" would be an extraordinary woman.

Brilliant

Any additional comments?

I have to admit it took me a while to realize the genius of this book, but once I got it, it is quite good. But I am wondering what happened to all those kids she had a basically abandoned.

Marvelous story and beautifully read

This is a delightful book! Written in the first person it chronicles the life of one Moll Flanders – not her real name but useful to sum up her life. She was born in London’s infamous Newgate prison where her mother was under a sentence of death for theft. Our heroine struggled on her own to form a life for herself and goes from one adventure to another. She tells us she was married 5 times and was a whore many years (by that she means what we would call a mistress, not a prostitute). Her “voice” in the book itself is enchanting and the reader does a beautiful job of portraying her and all the other characters. I will not give away much of the plot but reading it will give you great insight into the struggles women faced over the past 200 years. I found the part when she herself was in Newgate prison for theft very touching. How easily they executed people for petty crimes – awful to think of. Anyway, the book is wonderful and I highly recommend it. Don't miss it!

I nice and complex story

Would you listen to Moll Flanders again? Why?

No, I found the book interesting but a bit slow

What did you like best about this story?

How the main character adjusted to any situation and got herself out of trouble.

Which scene was your favorite?

When she found her mother in Virginia!

If you could rename Moll Flanders, what would you call it?

Not sure!