Notes on Defoe's Moll Flanders

The title page of this title, first published in 1926, was reset in 1933 to include a long subtitle. Donald Klopfer, co-owner of the Modern Library, sent a copy of the new title page to Charles David Abbott, an academic heavyweight at the University of Colorado, telling him of the change and seeking his approval. The subtitle was retained on all printings through 1969/70, including the reset 1967 text.

There were two editions: The first had no introduction but the second one did.

Bill Hornick points out that the history of Moll Flanders in the Modern Library is actually quite complicated:

"In 1933 the title page was reset with '&C.' added to the main title and Defoe's original extended title was written under it in six lines. This occurred in binding #7 and then binding #8 from 1940 to 1950.

"In 1950, still binding #8, the introduction and bibliography were added and wording and spelling changes were made to the extended title.

"In 1967, the entire book was reset resulting in a change in the number of pages in the book block. Neither the title nor extended title was changed but the bibliography was nearly doubled. This version exists in bindings #12 and #14."

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First copyright page text:     First Modern Library Edition

Dates in print:     1926 - 1950 (no intro);
                             1950 - 1970 (Schorer intro) 
                             1985 - 1986 (reprint)

Toledano number:   122.1 (no intro)
                                   122.2 (Schorer intro)

Intro author:     Title author's preface in both editions
                            Introduction by Mark Schorer in second edition

Genre:     Novel

Curriculum:     Eighteenth Century English Literature

Original language:      English

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Thanks to:

Henry Toledano

Terry Morris

Gordon Neavill

Bill Hornick

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