Robinson Crusoe, published in 1719, is considered by many to be the first novel in English, and its success was so enormous that by the end of the nineteenth century it had spawned more translations and versions than any other previous English book. An everyman character who has become part of our cultural heritage, Defoe's castaway - shipwrecked, imperilled and facing a host of elemental challenges - lives an archetypal life of survival, adventure and personal development. On one level a simple adventure story, while at the same time an allegory, a quest novel and a spiritual autobiography, Robinson Crusoe has captured the imagination of readers for nearly three centuries.
I was born in the year 1632, in the city of York, of a good family, though not of that country, my father being a foreigner of Bremen, who settled first at Hull. He got a good estate by merchandise,
Defoes Essay on Projects was the first volume he published, and no great writer ever published a first book more characteristic in expression of his tone of thought. It is practical in the highest degree, while running over with fresh speculation that seeks everywhere the well-being of society by growth of material and moral power. There is a wonderful fertility of mind, and almost whimsical precision of detail, with good sense and good humour to form the groundwork of a happy English style. Defoe in this book ran again and again into sound suggestions that first came to be realised long after he was dead. Upon one subject, indeed, the education of women, we have only just now caught him up. Defoe wrote the book in 1692 or 1693, when his age was a year or two over thirty, and he published it in 1697.
Diario del año de la peste (The journal of the plague year, 1722) es un relato novelado de los hechos históricos sucedidos en Londres y de los que Defoe se presenta como testigo ocular.No ha quedado claramente establecido por los eruditos hasta que punto es cierto todo lo que Defoe relata. Para el lector de literatura esta aproximacion mas o menos fiel a la realidad es irrevelante. El libro es uno de los mas espeluznantes frescos que el hombre ha pintado jamas de una metropoli sacudida por la peste.Muchas escenas recuerdan las pinturas de Brueghel: montañas de cadaveres son transportados en carros hacia gigantescas hogueras que cubren Londres de un insoportable olor a carne quemada. Escenas de locura y asesinato, como si todas las bajas pasiones explotaran al mismo tiempo, son los elementos que mueve Defoe para darnos a entender su postulado: no hay colaboracion ni fraternidad en una sociedad cuyos principios son la ambicion y el egoismo.
In "The Complete Novels of Daniel Defoe (Illustrated)," the reader is immersed in a rich tapestry of 18th-century prose that blends adventure, satire, and social commentary. Defoes narrative style, characterized by its realism and meticulous detail, deftly navigates the complexities of human experience through iconic works such as "Robinson Crusoe,""Moll Flanders," and "A Journal of the Plague Year." This illustrated collection enhances the reading experience, providing a visual context to Defoes explorations of survival, morality, and individualism, reflective of the emerging modernity of his time. Daniel Defoe (circa 1660-1731) stands as a pivotal figure in the canon of English literature, often heralded as one of the founding fathers of the novel. His experiences as a merchant, journalist, and political pamphleteer informed his writing, imbuing it with a keen awareness of contemporary issues such as colonialism, economic hardship, and social mobility. Defoes ability to weave personal narratives into broader societal critiques reflects his unique perspective during an era marked by significant change. This illustrated anthology serves as an essential contribution to both academic and leisure readings, offering insights into Defoes multifaceted characters and their profound impacts on literary history. Readers will find both timeless entertainment and important lessons in resilience and human nature, making this collection a must-have for enthusiasts of classic literature.
