Book Review:

Robinson Crusoe

by Daniel Defoe

Have you ever wondered what you would do if you washed up on a deserted island? Daniel Defoe dramatizes such an experience in "Robinson Crusoe", a story inspired by the story of Alexander Selkirk, a Scottish sailor who went to sea in 1704.

Sentenced to be marooned by his shipmates, Selkirk requested that he be put ashore on Juan Fernandez, where he remained until he was rescued five years later by Woodes Rogers in 1709. There has been some speculation that Defoe may have actually interviewed Selkirk while researching the story, but many historians have long debated this. Given the sensationalism of Selkirk's adventure, there were no shortages of his tale were available to Defoe to gleam inspiration from. Defoe seems to have built from Selkirk's story, adding colorful embellishment to create the novel for which he has become so well-known.

In his lifetime, Defoe published more than 500 books, pamphlets, articles, and poems. Unfortunately, none of his literary endeavors ever brought him much financial success or stability. His occupations ranged from spying and embezzling to soldiering and pamphleteering. He had started out as a merchant, but he soon found himself bankrupt, which led him to choose other occupations. His political passions, his flare for libel, and his inability to stay out of debt also caused him to be imprisoned seven times.

Even if he wasn't financially successful, Defoe managed to make a significant mark on literature. He influenced the development of the English novel, with his journalistic detail and characterization. Some claim that Defoe wrote the first true English novel; and he's often considered to be the father of British journalism.

At the time of its publication, in 1719, "Robinson Crusoe" was a success. Defoe was 60 when he wrote this first novel; and he would write seven more in the years to come, including "Moll Flanders" (1722), "Captain Singleton" (1720), "Colonel Jack" (1722), and "Roxana" (1724).

Robinson Crusoe -- The Story

It's no wonder the story was such a success... The story is about a man who is stranded on a desert island for 28 years. With the supplies he's able to salvage from the wrecked ship, Robinson Crusoe eventually builds a fort and then creates for himself a kingdom by taming animals, gathering fruit, growing crops, and hunting.

The book contains adventure of all sorts: pirates, shipwrecks, cannibals, mutiny, and so much more... Robinson Crusoe's story is also Biblical in many of it's themes and discussions. It's the story of the prodigal son, who runs away from home only to find calamity. Elements of the story of Job also appear in the story, when in his illness, Robinson cries out for deliverance: "Lord, be my help, for I am in great distress." Robinson questions God, asking, "Why has God done this to me? What have I done to be thus used?" But he makes peace, and goes on with his solitary existence.

After more than 20 years on the island, Robinson encounters cannibals, which represent the first human contact he's had since being stranded: "One day, about noon, going towards my boat, I was exceedingly surprised with the print of a man's naked foot on the shore, which was very plain to be seen on the sand." Then, he's alone--with only the brief far-off view of a shipwreck-- until he rescues Friday from the cannibals.

Robinson finally makes his escape when a ship of mutineers sail to the island. He and his companions help the British captain to take back control of he ship. He sets sail for England on December 19, 1686--after spending 28 years, 2 months, and 19 days on the island. He arrives back in England, after being gone for 35 years, and finds that he is a wealthy man.

Loneliness and the Human Experience

"Robinson Crusoe" is the tale of a lonely human being who manages to survive for years by learning to overcome his own shortcomings and appreciate the struggle for life on a completely different perspective. It's a story about the different ways that men cope with reality when hardship comes, but it's also the tale of a man creating his own reality, rescuing a savage and fashioning his own world out of the untamed wilderness of a desert island.

The tale has influenced many other tales, including "The Swiss Family Robinson", "Philip Quarll", "Peter Wilkins", and the film "Castaway". Defoe followed up the tale with his own sequel, "The Further Adventures of Robinson Crusoe," but that tale was not met with a much success as the first novel. In any case, the figure of Robinson Crusoe has become an important archetypal figure in literature--Robinson Crusoe was described by Samuel T. Coleridge as "the universal man."

It is important to note that while this tale is age appropriate, it is certainly filled with potentially adult situations that some parents may find objection with. For example, Crusoe's island is at times visited by cannibals and pirates. The novel is written in the mindset of Defoe's time, in that many outdated concepts appears odd and out of place, such as having Crusoe's savage friend Friday refer to him as "Master".

In short, this is an amazing book in such leagues as "Tom Sawyer & Huckleberry Finn", "Connecticut Yankee in King Arthur's Court", etc and one that every child could benefit (and enjoy!) from reading.

Highly Recommended!