Robinson Crusoe

by Timothy Meis (Adapter), Newell Convers Wyeth (Illustrator), Daniel Defoe (Creator)

Robinson Crusoe, once a brave sailor out to seek his fortune, is now a captive -- a captive of a lonely desert island on which he is marooned. With only his wits and the few supplies he is able to carry from his sinking ship to sustain him, he is forced to create a new life for himself, out of virtually nothing. As the years go by, Crusoe slowly becomes accustomed to a life of solitude. He has only Pol -- the parrot he has tamed -- a few cats, and some wild goats to keep him company and gradually, his island becomes more of a paradise than a prison. But this tranquility is unexpectedly shattered when one day, he sees a footprint...soon to be followed by a group of savages who have invaded his island. Crusoe finds himself fiercely defending an island that has become his own, and fighting for the chance to return home.

Carefully abridged for younger readers, this second addition to the Scribner Storybook Classic line, with striking illustrations by N. C. Wyeth, revitalizes Daniel Defoe's acclaimed tale of survival, self-reliance, adventure, and faith.

Genres: Fiction, Classics

64 pages, Hardcover

First published January 1, 2003

Reviews

[Aly Lancar · Rating 3 out of 5]

this is a good story. this book is interesting for whom like to take adventure. we can learn how to tame the sea and wild island

[Katie · Rating 3 out of 5]

I've been digging at this one for quite some time. I read an abridged version when I was a kid and really liked it. I'm into that whole man-versus-the elements sort of thing. So I was given this version AGES ago and never read it. It's a really beautiful edition, with the illustrations by N.C. Wyeth, who I adore. So a while back, finding myself with time on my hands, I started it up.

It's a little tedious. I don't mean that in a bad way. I just mean it's not the gripping adventure I remember from my youth. Between all the action bits is a whole lot of spiritual diatribe, which almost borders on pontificating more than a few times. I had no idea the story was so tinged in theology. I do not object in the least, especially in the beginning when Crusoe questions his salvation from the sea and deposit on the island, and eventually develops gratitude for the bounty he disocvers which enables his survival. But it becomes a bit heavy-handed when he meets Friday and gets him to cheer for Team Jesus. Defoe is a bit wordy, of course there has to be a lot of description when the story involves one guy for a few hundred pages. But he has the worst case of run-on sentence I've ever read. My college English professor would have slashed this to bits with his red pen.

Either way, I'm glad I've read it, the book on the shelf was a looming reminder of what a rotten procrastinator I am. That, and Wyeth's paintings really make you there on the island, more so than the words, I think. For the most part, though, this is one of those books one reads simply because it's a classic, not for actual enjoyment.

[Jinky · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is an abridgment edition geared to young readers. An over sized picture book of 53 pages with full page texts so it wouldn't be a one night bedtime story, unless you have an hour and half to spare.

I haven't read the full version so I haven't a clue what was left off but I certainly enjoyed this short form. I feel content that I have a solid feel for the author's writing which was very calming to the eye. I especially liked the accounts of Robinson Crusoe's growing spiritual faith. I marveled at his resourcefulness and tenacity. I certainly wouldn't have survive 28 years!

The illustrator did a great job with the pictorial depictions as well. The paintings were mood revealing and added visual depth.

Overall, I think it's a sound introduction to the classic book.

[Tara · Rating 2 out of 5]

To be honest, I read this abridged version because I'm reading the original and three chapters in I massively dislike the main character and find the book inanely boring. In this version, the main character is much easier to like.

[Brittany · Rating 4 out of 5]

I wonder why stories of desert islands and the name Robinson go so well together? I was surprised that I was the only person in my college economics class who had read it before.

[Sam · Rating 3 out of 5]

I've read fuller versions, so this one left me longing for the missing pieces.

[Michael Fitzgerald · Rating 4 out of 5]

A nice idea - using the Wyeth illustrations to accompany a greatly reduced size telling.