Robinson Crusoe

Daniel Defoe

Apr 2010 · Broadview Press

About this ebook

Robinson Crusoe is one of the most famous literary characters in history, and his story has spawned hundreds of retellings. Inspired by the life of Alexander Selkirk, a sailor who lived for several years on a Pacific island, the novel tells the story of Crusoe’s survival after shipwreck on an island, interaction with the mainland’s native inhabitants, and eventual rescue. Read variously as economic fable, religious allegory, or imperialist fantasy, Crusoe has never lost its appeal as one of the most compelling adventure stories of all time.

In addition to an introduction and helpful notes, this Broadview Edition includes a wide range of appendices that situate Defoe’s 1719 novel amidst castaway narratives, economic treatises, reports of cannibalism, explorations of solitude, and Defoe’s own writings on slavery and the African trade. A final appendix presents images of Crusoe’s rescue of Friday from a dozen of the most significant illustrated editions of the novel published between 1719 and 1920.

Ratings and reviews

Beware--Amazon has lumped reviews of all editions of Robinson Crusoe, even including abridged children's editions, together. This makes the reviews useless for readers trying to decide which version to buy. The novel itself, of course, is a classic that is fascinating both from a literary point of view and a historical one.

Dont ever give it to a kid its the worst book possible its so hard to understand

wow

About the author

Evan R. Davis is Elliott Associate Professor of English at Hampden-Sydney College, Hampden-Sydney, Virginia.