The Penguin English Library Edition of Robinson Crusoe by Daniel Defoe 'I walk'd about on the shore, lifting up my hands, and my whole being, as I may say, wrapt up in the contemplation of my deliverance ... reflecting upon all my comrades that were drown'd, and that there should not be one soul sav'd but my self ... ' Who has not dreamed of life on an exotic isle, far away from civilization? Here is the novel which has inspired countless imitations by lesser writers, none of which equal the power and originality of Defoe's famous book. Robinson Crusoe, set ashore on an island after a terrible storm at sea, is forced to make do with only a knife, some tobacco, and a pipe. He learns how to build a canoe, make bread, and endure endless solitude. That is, until, twenty-four years later, when he confronts another human being. First published in 1719, Robinson Crusoe has been praised by such writers as James Joyce, Virginia Woolf, and Samuel Johnson as one of the greatest novels in the English language. The Penguin English Library - 100 editions of the best fiction in English, from the eighteenth century and the very first novels to the beginning of the First World War.
Daniel Defoe
Daniel Defoe was an English writer, journalist, and pamphleteer born in 1660. He is best known for his novel "Robinson Crusoe," which is considered one of the first English novels and a pioneering work in the genre of adventure fiction. Defoe's writing style is characterized by its realism and vivid storytelling, often drawing on his own experiences and observations.
In addition to "Robinson Crusoe," Defoe wrote numerous other works, including "Moll Flanders," "A Journal of the Plague Year," and "The Adventures of Captain Singleton." His works often explore themes of individualism, survival, and the human spirit. Defoe's contributions to literature include popularizing the novel as a literary form and influencing later authors such as Jonathan Swift and Charles Dickens.
Overall, Daniel Defoe is remembered as a groundbreaking writer whose works continue to be studied and admired for their narrative skill and enduring themes.