Book Review #18 – “Robinson Crusoe” by Daniel Defoe (this post is in process and incomplete at this time)
Book Review #18 – “Robinson Crusoe” by Daniel Defoe; published 1719.
“Tis never too late to be wise.” (Robinson Crusoe)
Background of the Novel. The full title of Defoe’s book is “The Life and Strange Surprising Adventures of Robinson Crusoe.” This book has been described as one of the greatest adventure stories of all time, and it certainly was the first of its kind. Up to its publishing, English fiction was more or less limited to short stories, plays and poetry. So Robinson Crusoe was the first extended realistic fiction, and has even been declared the first English novel by many literary scholars. This book was an immediate best-seller, something brand new to the reading public, and soon became the most widely published work of literature at the time.. Many historians believe that Defoe based his story and character on various castaway stories that were circulating at that time, true stories of being marooned on distant islands, etc. But Defoe never pointed to one castaway story in particular, or what might have inspired him for this tale. The novel surely inspired many spinoffs with similar themes, though, and proved to be the original that spawned many close copies, including… Swiss Family Robinson by Johann David Wyss; Gulliver’s Travels by Jonathon Swift; Treasure Island by Robert Louis Stevenson; Tale of Little Pig by Beatrix Potter; Lord of the Flies by William Golding; and The Mysterious Island by Jules Verne. There have been many dramatic films and TV shows produced about Robinson Crusoe as well, including the film “Cast Away” with Tom Hanks in 2000. The master of adventure fiction, Jules Verne, even said, “We have all written a ”Robinson,” but it is a moot question if any of them would have seen the light of day had it not been for their former prototype.”
Brief Bio of Daniel Defoe (1660-1731). Defoe was a survivor right from the start, born in London and soon after at five years old having to face down not only the Bubonic Plague but also the completely destructive Great Fire of London. He became a staunch Puritan who preached strict Puritan moralism to anyone who would listen. As a member of the Dissenters he refused to join the Church of England, writing many tracts and pamphlets about how to be a good Puritan Christian. During his 25 years in journalism with newspapers and magazines, he developed an excellent reputation as a popular writer for the public interests. Over his lifetime he wrote over 500 works that included novels, political pamphlets, religious tracts, essays, and newspaper/magazine columns. Despite his popularity, Defoe struggled through financial problems all his life, facing several bankruptcies. As a Nonconformist at 25 years of age, he joined as an active member of the rebellion against King James 2. And then in his support of the next king, William of Orange, he became a secret agent spying for the English court. Later, his strident opinions on Puritan beliefs landed him in prison for six months. After his pardon, he continued as a spy for the king, gathering intelligence on secret missions of all sorts. Defoe developed a large following as a political and religious writer, and his pointed satires and strong opinions landed him in jail once again for a time. As a firm believer in the “puritan work ethic,” he promoted the self-made man who was independent of any need for assistance, focusing on the virtue of hard work, self-reliance, and individual accomplishment. This code centered on personal productivity and working for everything he gets on life. A good Puritan would say that if you didn’t work for it, you didn’t earn it, and therefore you shouldn’t get it. Ben Franklin’s famous saying during this time sums it up… “God only helps those who help themselves.” It’s not surprising that Robinson Crusoe highlights the virtues of resourcefulness, persistence, ingenuity, and the importance of courageously training oneself to survive through hard work and shrewd thinking. Defoe didn’t write this great novel until he was 60 years old. The money he earned from this best-seller quickly evaporated, even after he later followed it up with another best-seller, Moll Flanders, a conversion story about a prostitute who redeemed herself. Nonetheless, he died penniless at 71 years of age.