Moll is born in Newgate prison and seems destined to die on its gallows after a lifetime of debauchery and thievery. Daniel Craig plays Moll’s heartthrob, Jemmy. Also featured is Diana Rigg as Moll’s long lost mother. The production faithfully follows the bawdy and often unpredictable plot of Defoe’s picaresque novel, published in 1722. For all its period indecency, the book is now considered an immortal classic and “among the few English novels which we can call indisputably great,” in the opinion of Virginia Woolf. But beware! “The story, daring for the 18th century, is still daring for late 20th century TV,” warns the Los Angeles Times. Moll Flanders was adapted by Andrew Davies and is over 3 1/2 hours long.
“Bold and surprising, “Moll Flanders” and its risk-taking heroine never hesitate to go all the way,” declared the Chicago Sun Times.
Shown on PBS Masterpiece Theatre. A co-production of WGBH Boston and Granada Television.
Starring Alex Kingston, Daniel Craig, Diana Rigg, Ronald Fraser.
Note: Moll Flanders the book was published in 1722. At the end, we’re told that it was “Written in the year 1683,” when Moll would be about seventy years old. That means Moll would have been born in 1613, and much of the action in the story would take place around 1630s – 1650s in the Stuart era, but Masterpiece says this is set in the 18th century, so this is also being listed in the [Georgian era](http://www.willowandthatch.com/period-films-to-watch/period-dramas-georgian-regency-eras/).
There is another version of Moll Flanders, which strays from the book. If you don’t need a faithful adaptation, you may wish to also watch [Moll Flanders](http://amzn.to/1QLch3Z) (1996) which was given favorable reviews for its acting and art direction. Starring Robin Wright, Morgan Freeman, Stockard Channing, John Lynch, Brenda Fricker.