Roxana, The Fortunate Mistress

Name: Roxana, The Fortunate Mistress
Author: Daniel Defoe

Roxana, The Fortunate Mistress is a novel by Daniel Defoe, first published in 1724. It tells the story of a beautiful and intelligent woman who is forced to make her own way in the world after being abandoned by her husband. Roxana is a young woman of good birth who is married to a wealthy merchant. When her husband dies, she is left with no money and no prospects. She is forced to make her own way in the world, and she does so by becoming a courtesan. She is successful in her new profession, and she soon finds herself in the company of some of the most powerful and influential people in London. Roxana is a complex character, and the novel explores her inner struggles as she navigates her way through the world of high society. She is torn between her desire for wealth and power, and her longing for true love and companionship. In the end, she is able to find a balance between the two, and she is able to find happiness and contentment.

By Daniel Defoe · First published 1724 · Genre: Historical Fiction, Romance, Adventure · 30 chapters · 133,477 words

First lines

I was born, as my friends told me, at the city of Poitiers, in the province or county of Poitou in France, from whence I was brought to England by my parents, who fled for their religion about the year 1683, when the Protestants were banished from France by the cruelty of their persecutors.

I, who knew little or nothing of what I was brought over hither for, was well enough pleased with being here. London, a large and gay city, took with me mighty well, who from my being a child loved a crowd and to see a great many fine folks.

What this Textopian page supports

Roxana, The Fortunate Mistress is listed on Textopian as a novel by Daniel Defoe, dated 1724 CE.

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Work type: Novel
Author: Daniel Defoe
Date: 1724 CE
Language: English
Genres: Historical Fiction, Romance, Adventure, Satire, Drama
Length: 133,477 words
Structure: 30 chapters, 3,527 paragraphs
Reading fit: Difficult (College Level)

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Discussion starters

What should a reader notice first when entering Roxana, The Fortunate Mistress?
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Similar titles

Genres

Historical Fiction — The novel is based on the life of a real woman, Roxana, and is set in the early 18th century.
Romance — The novel follows Roxana's journey as she navigates through a series of romantic relationships.
Adventure — Roxana embarks on a journey of self-discovery and exploration, encountering a variety of people and places along the way.
Satire — The novel is a critique of the social and moral conventions of the time, and is written in a satirical style.