As You Travel About This Summer, I Hope You Don’t Run Into Any Catastrophes Unlike Robinson Crusoe!

As you travel about this summer, I hope you don’t run into any catastrophes unlike Robinson Crusoe! Robinson Crusoe was first printed in 1719 after Daniel Defoe (1660?-1731) had made a career change from speculator to writer. Robinson Crusoe was Defoe’s first novel and it combines two of the most popular 18th-century genres: sermons and travel narratives. Crusoe is morally challenged right from the start of the story. How Defoe portrays his protagonist’s reasoning with his fate makes the novel compelling.

The book was immensely popular and translated in to several languages. Our two volume copy from 1783 includes several illustrations and of course my favorite feature this summer–a pink ribbon!!!

Defoe’s story has inspired many book and film adaptations like Swiss Family Robinson, both book and film, and Castaway with Tom Hanks. But if you are looking for a female perspective, try J.M. Cotzee’s Foe which retells the story of Crusoe from the perspective of Susan Barton.

-Jillian

PR3403 .A1 1783