Plenty of Pinching

John Mullan, who edited Moll Flanders and Robinson Crusoe for Everyman, is a professor of English at University College London. How Novels Work will appear in October.

Other articles by this contributor:

High-Meriting, Low-Descended · The Unpolished Pamela

Taking Sides · on the high road with Bonnie Prince Charlie

Zone of Anecdotes · Betrothed to Christ and in a muddle

Unpranked Lyre · The Laziness of Thomas Gray