Memoirs of Fanny Hill vs Moll Flanders: Which Should You Read?

Both live on shelves: Prostitutes, Women, Social life and customs, History, Fiction

Memoirs of Fanny Hill John Cleland · 1749 ★★★☆☆ 3.3 221 pages · ≈ 4 h 06 m · Demanding

Memoirs of Fanny Hill was written in debtor's prison in 1784 and was the first modern erotic novel in English. A young woman, Fanny Hill, is forced by poverty to go into service, but is tricked into becoming a…

1 film adaptation

Sex customs Sexuality Sexual Behavior Young women

Find on Amazon More like this →

Moll Flanders Daniel Defoe · 1722 ★★★★☆ 3.5 322 pages · ≈ 5 h 58 m · Challenging

These are the true confessions of a remarkable and passionate young woman are thought to have been based on the adventures of a real prisoner in Newgate where Moll was born. ostensibly written as a warning to…

1 film adaptation

Exile Children of prisoners English Adventure stories British

Find on Amazon More like this →

Side by side

The verdict

Readers rate Moll Flanders highest: Moll Flanders 3.5 · Memoirs of Fanny Hill 3.3.
Moll Flanders has the widest readership — 49318 ratings behind its score.
Moll Flanders runs the darker storyline; Memoirs of Fanny Hill stays the lighter read.

Memoirs of Fanny Hill: Check price →Moll Flanders: Check price →

Affiliate links: we may earn a commission on purchases.

How to choose

Want the crowd-tested pick? Moll Flanders 49318 ratings vs 13582 for Memoirs of Fanny Hill New to the genre? Moll Flanders Challenging vs Demanding for Memoirs of Fanny Hill In the mood for something dark? Moll Flanders a darker storyline than Memoirs of Fanny Hill Want something lighter? Memoirs of Fanny Hill an easier tone than Moll Flanders

Scores by source

	Memoirs of Fanny Hill	Moll Flanders
Goodreads	3.3 (13582)	3.5 (49318)
Hardcover	1.0 (1)	3.3 (44)
Apple Books	3.0 (39)	3.5 (15)
LiveLib	—	3.8 (604)
	Check price →	Check price →

Reception

	Memoirs of Fanny Hill	Moll Flanders
Ratings	13582	49318
Editions	283	1114
Citations	—	39
Film adaptations	1	1
Want to read	17755	37010
Reading it now	—	1987
Written reviews	1267	2489
Wikipedia attention	18424	5851
Pages	221	322
	Check price →	Check price →

Questions readers ask

Which is rated higher: Memoirs of Fanny Hill or Moll Flanders?

Moll Flanders has the higher combined reader rating across sources (Moll Flanders 3.5/5, Memoirs of Fanny Hill 3.3/5).

Which is shorter to read: Memoirs of Fanny Hill or Moll Flanders?

Memoirs of Fanny Hill is the quickest read. Estimated at 225 words per minute: Memoirs of Fanny Hill (221 pages, ≈ 4 h 06 m); Moll Flanders (322 pages, ≈ 5 h 58 m).

Which is harder to read: Memoirs of Fanny Hill or Moll Flanders?

Estimated difficulty, based on era, reader shelves and length — Memoirs of Fanny Hill: Demanding; Moll Flanders: Challenging.

Have both books been made into films?

Memoirs of Fanny Hill: 5 film adaptations; Moll Flanders: 4 film adaptations.