Memoirs Of Fanny Hill & Moll FlandersBy John Cleland & Daniel Defoe

"Jong . . . filled a gap in the great tradition of the picaresque novel. . . . Linguistically, "Fanny" is a tower of strength. . . . Jong has gone farther than Joyce."--Anthony Burgess, "Saturday Review."

‘Fanny Hill’ scandalised thousands of Victorians with its vivid descriptions of sexual pleasure, and landed its author in court a year after publication on charges of ‘corrupting the King's subjects’. This only heightened its allure – and today it is still hugely appreciated as a work of true erotic and literary merit.

A burlesque of Richardson's "Pamela", which was generally ascribed to Fielding at the time of its appearance and held by most authorities to be by him.--Cf. W.L. Cross' "The history of Henry Fielding", v. 1, p. 23, 303-308: Notes & queries, 12th ser. v. 1, p. 24-26.

John Cleland is said to have "misapplied considerable talents" in writing his scandalous 1749 novel, Memoirs of a Woman of Pleasure, or; Fanny Hill. Nevertheless, the book has near-constantly remained in print, even where declared criminal, till finally being recognized as a classic of 18th century literature. It's known to have sold for as much as $40 for a new printing in 1863 -- several hundred dollars in today's money.Fanny Hill, age 15, is orphaned by a smallpox outbreak and forced to fend for herself. She narrowly escapes selling her virginity in a brothel after being tricked into taking a job there, and soon loses her beloved to the machinations of his wicked father. What, then, is left for Fanny to do?The text of this edition is copied from a famous French printing, and illustrated with several charming black-and-white illustrations.

Abandoned at birth and threatened with a life in service, Defoe's young rebel sets her heart on independence. One fatal seduction and five husbands later, she resorts to a life of self-supporting crime.