Robinson Crusoe & A Journal of the Plague Year

by Daniel Defoe

If ever a book could be considered imperishable, it is Robinson Crusoe. Defoe's masterpiece has maintained, generation after generation, its special place among the world's classics. As an adventure story, as a parable of man's indomitable spirit and resourcefulness, it is as alive and exciting as it was when first published in 1719.
This volume also contains A Journal of the Plague Year, that feat of the imagination that reads as if it were a documented history.

620 pages, Hardcover

Published January 1, 1948

About the author

Daniel Defoe was an English novelist, journalist, merchant, pamphleteer and spy. He is most famous for his novel Robinson Crusoe, published in 1719, which is claimed to be second only to the Bible in its number of translations. He has been seen as one of the earliest proponents of the English novel, and helped to popularise the form in Britain with others such as Aphra Behn and Samuel Richardson. Defoe wrote many political tracts, was often in trouble with the authorities, and spent a period in prison. Intellectuals and political leaders paid attention to his fresh ideas and sometimes consulted him.
Defoe was a prolific and versatile writer, producing more than three hundred works—books, pamphlets, and journals—on diverse topics, including politics, crime, religion, marriage, psychology and the supernatural. He was also a pioneer of business journalism and economic journalism.

Reviews

[To Read List · Rating 2 out of 5]

"This book is a book of the 1700s... and I wonder if it shouldn't just stay a book of the 1700s." - Episode 29, ROBINSON CRUSOE VS. THE HOMO SAPIENS AGENDA
http://thetoreadlistpodcast.libsyn.co...

[Scott Breslove · Rating 3 out of 5]

Finally, finally, finally, I finished this book. The three stars that I gave it above are for Robinson Crusoe, and Robinson Crusoe only. RC was a good read, very interesting and enjoyable, but the Olde English made it a little tougher read. The emphasis on God was also a little much for me, but I think that had to do more with the feelings around the time that the book was written. I would definitly recommend Robinson Crusoe to anyone to read, but I would look for a more, how should I put it, recent version. As far as A Journal of the Plague Year, eh, I would probably give it one and a half stars. It was a tough read, it was presented as a journal of a survivor of the London plague, and while it did come off as one, it also came off as, (again) how should I put it, way too... proper. It was very repetetive, factual, and long winded, and again, the Olde English didn't help it's cause. It had a few good personal stories intertwined, but the rest was hard to take. Most books I read word for word, a better way to describe how I read A Journal of the Plague Year was skimming, and it still took me over a month to read. That should say something in itself. Anyway, now that that's finally done with, it's on to the next one!

[Bruce · Rating 4 out of 5]

I like the "Journal of the Plague Year" even though it is not based on Defoe's personal experiences it give you a feeling for how the plague effected human relations in London. There is a break down in relationships:

As the richer sort got into ships, so the lower rank got into hoys, smacks, lighters, and fishing-boats; and many, especially watermen, lay in their boats; but those made sad work of it, especially the latter, for, going about for provision, and perhaps to get their subsistence, the infection got in among them and made a fearful havoc; many of the watermen died alone in their wherries as they rid at their roads, as well as above bridge as below, and were not found sometimes till they were not in condition for anybody to touch or come near them.

It is a great story and one that is available via Project Gutenberg as well as in paper. I will write more later.