Title: Robinson Crusoe Author: Daniel Defoe (1659-1731)-I should point out that the actual date of his birth is unknown, but it is somewhere between 1659 and 1661.
First Published: 1719
My Edition: Bantam Classic
Pages: 278
Other Works Include: Atlantis Major (1711), Captain Singleton (1720), A Journal of the Plague Year (1722), Moll Flanders (1722), Roxana (1724)
There is a lot of interesting information about Daniel Defoe and the craze he started with the publication of this little novel. It is regarded as one of the first stories of its kind-an account of adventure and intrigue that took hold of the world when it was first published. It sold out of FOUR printings in the first year it was released, which was in 1719. That is truly remarkable!
It also launched a whole genre of novels with similar themes. The term for the genre is "Robinsonade" as a homage to the wonderful action and ingenuity that this novel explores.
In addition to Robinson Crusoe, I will also be reading Moll Flanders for my challenge. I have had limited experience with Defoe. I have read a few of his essays (for a college class), but have never attacked one of his larger works. I am really looking forward to this and seeing how the orginal island survival story pans out! Given my love for the TV show LOST and that kind of island survival, I have to wonder if Defoe and his hero have more success!
