Subject
Children of prisoners -- Fiction Books
Best books
Charles Dickens
Little Dorrit
"Little Dorrit" by Charles Dickens is a novel published in serial form between 1855 and 1857. Amy Dorrit, born and raised in London's Marshalsea debtors' prison, captures the attention of Arthur Clennam upon his return from twenty years abroad. As Arthur investigates a cryptic message from his dying father, their lives intertwine amid questions of debt, family secrets, and social class. Dickens satirizes Victorian society's failures—from debtors' prisons to government bureaucracy—while exploring how sudden fortune can transform lives and relationships.
Daniel Defoe
The Fortunes and Misfortunes of the Famous Moll Flanders
"The Fortunes and Misfortunes of the Famous Moll Flanders" by Daniel Defoe is a novel published in 1722. Born in prison to a convict mother, Moll navigates survival through a series of marriages, deceptions, and reinventions. As circumstances strip away her security time and again, she transforms from hopeful young woman to skilled con artist to accomplished thief. Through cunning and charm, Moll pursues the one thing that eludes her: lasting prosperity and peace in a world that offers women few honest paths to independence.
Joseph Conrad
Chance: A Tale in Two Parts
"Chance: A Tale in Two Parts" by Joseph Conrad is a novel published in 1913. Narrated through multiple voices, including Conrad's recurring character Charles Marlow, the story follows Flora de Barral, daughter of a convicted swindler. Her sheltered existence collapses with her father's imprisonment, forcing her to depend on others' uncertain generosity until she escapes through marriage to Captain Anthony. The novel explores their enigmatic union through fragmented perspectives, building toward a climactic resolution when her father rejoins them at sea.
Joseph Conrad
Chance: A Tale in Two Parts
"Chance: A Tale in Two Parts" by Joseph Conrad is a novel published in 1913. Narrated by Conrad's recurring character Charles Marlow and others, the story follows Flora de Barral, daughter of a convicted swindler. Flora's life shifts from sheltered prosperity to dependence on resentful benefactors before she escapes through marriage to Captain Anthony. When her father is released from prison and joins them aboard ship, the narrative moves toward its climax. Multiple narrators piece together Flora's story, exploring themes of feminism, financial speculation, and the tension between human will and forces beyond control.
Charles Dickens
Pikku Dorrit I
"Pikku Dorrit I" by Charles Dickens is a novel published in serial form between 1855 and 1857. Amy Dorrit, born and raised in London's Marshalsea debtors' prison, captures the attention of Arthur Clennam upon his return from twenty years abroad. As Arthur investigates a mysterious message from his dying father, he becomes drawn into Little Dorrit's world. The story satirizes British society's failures—debtors' prisons, bureaucratic paralysis, and rigid class divisions—while following characters whose lives transform when long-lost fortune liberates the Dorrit family from poverty.
Elizabeth Cooper
Living Up to Billy
"Living Up to Billy" by Elizabeth Cooper is a novel written in the early 20th century. The story centers around Nan, a young woman navigating the challenges of raising her nephew Billy while grappling with her own difficult past and the impact of their environment on her life choices. Through her experiences, the novel delves into themes of love, family, and the struggle for a better future amidst the limitations imposed by societal circumstances. At the start of the narrative, we are introduced to Nan through her heartfelt letters to her sister Kate, who is incarcerated. The letters reveal Nan's deep bond with Kate, her determination to care for young Billy, and her efforts to navigate a world filled with hardship and moral ambiguity. Nan’s correspondence reflects her resilience and hope, as she details the struggles of raising Billy alone while balancing her job as a dancer in New York City. The opening sets the stage for a poignant exploration of familial duty, personal dreams, and the longing for a more fulfilling life in the face of adversity.
Daniel Defoe
Moll Flanders
"Moll Flanders" by Daniel Defoe is a novel published in 1722. It follows the turbulent life of a woman born in Newgate Prison who navigates 18th-century England through multiple marriages, romantic entanglements, and shifting fortunes. Driven by a relentless quest for financial security, Moll reinvents herself repeatedly, moving between social classes and moral boundaries. Her journey takes her from servitude to prosperity, across continents and back, as she employs charm, wit, and increasingly desperate measures to survive in an unforgiving world.
Charles Dickens
Pikku Dorrit II
"Pikku Dorrit II" by Charles Dickens is a novel published between 1855 and 1857. Amy Dorrit, born and raised in London's Marshalsea debtors' prison, meets Arthur Clennam upon his return from abroad. As Arthur investigates a cryptic family message, he becomes drawn into the Dorrits' world. When a sudden inheritance transforms the family's fortunes, they must navigate wealth's complexities while confronting buried secrets. Dickens satirizes British debtors' prisons, government bureaucracy, and rigid class divisions in this tale of poverty, prosperity, and redemption.
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