Robinson Crusoe

Book excerpt: A CLASSIC TALE OF SHIPWRECK AND SURVIVAL Widely regarded as the first English novel, Robinson Crusoe by Daniel Defoe, is one of the most popular adventure stories and most published books in history. This beautifully designed novel of human endurance set in a faraway land is packed with suspense, enchanting detail and daring heroics. Unfolding over a 30 year period, this classic tale of shipwreck and survival is a timeless celebration of hard work, patience, ingenuity, and undaunting courage and is one of the great works of Western civilization. In his own words, Robinson Crusoe, a castaway who was marooned on a remote tropical island for 28 years tells of the terrible storm that drowned all his shipmates and left him struggling to create a life for himself in the wilderness. Crusoe becomes self-sufficient using material salvaged from shipwrecks as he learns to make pottery, grow crops, build a house and domesticate livestock. He must overcome despair, doubt, and self-pity as he encounters cannibals, earthquakes, and mutineers. His many adventures include his rescue of a native who has escaped from cannibals. Naming him Friday, the day he was found, he becomes Crusoe’s trusted companion and servant. The two share a variety of adventures including a fierce battle with cannibals. They recapture a mutinous ship and return to England. An instant success when first published in 1719, over the years Robinson Crusoe has inspired countless imitations along with numerous sequels and adaptations for stage, film, and television. The plot is believed to be partly based on the real-life experiences of Scottish sailor Alexander Selkirk.