Defoe's Robinson Crusoe (1719) and Moll Flanders (1721) together defined a new way of writing fiction in the 18th century. Each was highly controversial in Defoe's time, and each has generated a very large amount of criticism since. This Guide examines the major trends and movements in critical interpretation of these two popular and widely-studied novels, from the earliest reception history to the present day. The thematic and chronological organization...