The Fortunes and Misfortunes of the Famous Moll Flanders is a Daniel Defoe novel following the true account of the life of the eponymous Moll, detailing her exploits from birth until old age. Daniel Foe was an English trader, writer, journalist and spy. Defoe is notable for being one of the earliest proponents of the novel, as he helped to popularize the form in Britain. A prolific and versatile writer, he wrote more than 500 books, pamphlets and journals.