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Moll Flanders
- Narrated by: Janet Suzman
- Length: 13 hrs
- Unabridged Audiobook
- Categories: Literature & Fiction, Classics
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Summary
Exclusively from Audible
In this satirical faux autobiography, Moll Flanders, abandoned at birth, sets her rebellious heart on a life of independence in late 17th-century England. A strong-willed woman, she is determined to make a better life for herself, no matter what it takes: thievery, prostitution, seductions, marriages, or illicit liaisons. Born to a convicted felon in Newgate prison Moll learns to live off her wits, refusing to be a helpless victim and defying most traditional depictions of women of the era.
Though first published in 1722, Moll's account of her endurance and survival still strongly resonates with today's audience just as much as it did to its original readers.
Moll Flanders was one of the first social novels to be published in English and draws heavily on Defoe's experience of the social conditions that were prevalent in the London of the late 17th century.
Defoe was no stranger to misfortune as in one form or another, it pursued him continually. He wrote of himself: 'No man has tasted differing fortunes more. And 13 times I have been rich and poor.'
It wasn't until the age of 59 that Defoe began to write the first of his novels and other fictional writings that resulted in him being called the father of the English novel. His works are still loved today due to his remarkable insight into human nature.
Narrator Biography
Janet Suzman has received The Evening Standard Award for both Masha in Three Sisters, and Hester in Hello And Goodbye, as well as Academy Award and Golden Globe Nominations for her Czarina in Nicholas And Alexandra. Her Hedda Gabler was chosen as the BBC's 50th Anniversary Classic Drama Repeat. With such awards and nominations it is hardly surprising that she has a huge classical repertoire and background and brings unique authority to a read. Her experience includes LAMDA and frequent periods with the RSC. More recently she was appointed Dame Commander of the Order of the British Empire (DBE) in The Queen's 2011 Birthday Honours list, for her services to drama. Janet's voice work includes innumerable documentaries such as Hitler Youth, Hiroshima, Cleopatra, Marco Polo and The Windsors, promos for the BBC, and corporates for NKFP. She has also voiced the Ostrich in the gorgeous animation series Tinga Tinga Tales, and narrated two of Sally Gardner's books, The Silver Blade and The Red Necklace.
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What listeners say about Moll Flanders
Average customer ratingsReviews - Please select the tabs below to change the source of reviews.
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- G. Kilshaw
- 04-04-18
A 5⭐️read
This book kept me enthralled from beginning to end. Beautifully read in keeping with the times. May seem a little wordy but for me added to the atmosphere. I would recommend it to anyone that enjoys period literature.
5 people found this helpful
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- Steve
- 08-03-16
Well read but Defoe...
It was very well read even though Defoe is certainly a struggle to get through.
3 people found this helpful
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- DidiGogo
- 20-02-16
Brilliantly read by Janet Suzman
Moll Flanders, the original wayward woman, brought vividly to life. Love Janet Suzman's gravelly voice - perfect!
5 people found this helpful
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- Hugh M. Clarke
- 30-09-19
Flawed Morality Tale
Having spent a life in crime, the heroine of the tale makes a fortune and, in her seventies, decides to pursue a life repentance, but not not one of reparation nor of restoration. Much of the story is repetitive and at times, tedious. It is difficult to feel sympathetic to a character who, while occasionally open to feeling; spends most of her time in selfish calculation. Had it not been for Janet Suzman’s expressive reading, I’d have given up on this book.
1 person found this helpful
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- Erika
- 11-08-22
Classic yarn brought to life by excellent narrator
Loved this book more than I expected. I had read this book so many years ago that I could not even recall the whole story, perhaps I never finished the book all those years ago. Janet Suzman reads this so well and with such character and voice that brings the story alive. For me this is a fine example of how a great narration by the right narrator can make or break a story. In this case make the story. Daniel Defoe naturally wrote according to the style of the time and the story can be rather meandering and repetitive at times. However, Janet Suzman's way of narrating, her voice, her accent, both real and contrived, added enormously to my enjoyment of this audio book. I had this book via the plus catalogue as part of my audible membership, which is a great benefit. I will now explore some more narration by Janet Suzman as I enjoyed her narration so much. A pleasant voice easy on the ear and without any of the high pitch squeak which we often find with female narrators.
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- Anon
- 04-07-22
Wonderful story
Lovely to relive this story. the narrator's voice was especially suited to it and very pleasant to listen to.
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- Anonymous User
- 02-03-22
Excellent narration by
Janet Suzman! I find the novel's greatest strength was psychological : the portrayal of what a person thinks when turning to crime was very well done. I especially enjoyed the second half of the novel as it was more relatable (society's views on sex have changed a lot in the last 300 years).
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- Sue
- 13-02-22
wonderfully narrated, kept me captivated!
Great narration, lovely to listen to, captivated from start to finish, would listen to again.
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- Essex Hobart
- 03-06-21
Story could be improved by a different narrator
Narrator not engaging, not good at character voices. Been spoilt by listening to better quality performance.
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- Amazon Customer
- 05-05-21
Good fun
The story of a woman who bravely overcame an addiction to wedding cake and went on to dedicate herself to finding lost things. Quite heart warming.
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- Ricardo
- 05-02-09
Great read wonderful narrator
I really enjoyed this book. If you have read Dafoe before you will like this as much as Robinson Crusoe though totally different. The story is written in a simple and straightforward manner yet with so much turns and twists in the events that makes it hard to take a break from the story (I'd say lay the book down if there were a book to lay). I had to read it in depth to make a book review for a subject at university and not only did it help me complete the read quicker but it was wonderfully enjoyable. The narrator is absolutely marvellous. Clear voice and dramatic tone make the book sound even better in her voice.
7 people found this helpful
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- Marek
- 14-03-08
Great
Janet Suzman has a terrific voice. Loved her reading.
5 people found this helpful
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- Marianna
- 16-05-09
Excellent reading
Janet Suzman did a wonderful job of bringing this character to life. It is a fascinating tale of class, money and crime. Defoe's formal yet eloquent writing was sublime and well-handled by Suzman.
3 people found this helpful
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- Mr. Stan L. Jordan
- 15-07-21
Very very enjoyable!
Not as gritty and unapologetic as say a Dickens or Orwell novel; however, that it is not a negative. Defoe's book is a fine example of realism. And the story flows well and is never boring. The narrator was perfect! A wonderful book and listening experience.
1 person found this helpful
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- MightyLord
- 12-11-15
I bought this on cassette.
The other performer had an English or British accent and just made it sound so nice for me. this performer, though good, just doesn't sound like the other performer.
1 person found this helpful
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- Andrew Comment
- 06-08-22
Great reading
I really enjoyed this one. I was familiar with the plot but surprised at the depths of turns and twists.
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- EileenT
- 25-03-22
Janet Suzman is a gem!
Fantastic narrator! The story is sometimes exciting, often repetitive. Not a sexy book (I'd assumed it was) but the sense of an unreliable narrator (lying to us, lying to herself?) is the real drama.
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- Maria R Gladd
- 06-06-21
wow
amazing insights into a distant time and world. compare to Pepys. xxx xxx xxx xxx xxx xxx
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- NetBoss
- 15-12-20
Kids?
I understand the tragedy of poverty, but what about all the children she abandoned and alluded to no effort in trying to make sure they were taken care of when, in the end, she had the means to do so. By the time she came to America, her youngest couldn’t have been 10 years old. Paying off a governess is not taking responsibility.