Robinson Crusoe (Penguin Classics)

I read this book for a environmental literature class, and although it is a classic, after reading it I do not know what's so good about it. I really disliked it. I did not find it interesting. It was also unsatisfying.

This is actually two books - the first, "The Life and Strange Surprizing Adventures of Robinson Crusoe" and the second, "The Farther Adventures of Robinson Crusoe".

The first is the story we are familiar with - he gets stranded on an island off the north coast of Brazil and eventually is rescued after 28 years. The second picks up after the first and ends with Crusoe's retirement at age 72.

I found the early 18th century Englishman somewhat amusing and yet more disturbing. Here is what struck me as I was reading. First, the character's assumption that all African and American natives are savages, sub-human, quite likely to be cannibals. Second, the character's belief that protestant Christian belief was the only true belief. He denigrates "papists" (catholics) and particularly any native beliefs. He proudly boasts of proselytizing Friday and converting him to Christianity. Ironically, all sorts of atrocities are committed by Englishmen, but he still holds them superior to natives.

In the second part, the character becomes obsessed with "paganism" (anything non-Christian). He demeans any native beliefs, Japanese, Chinese peoples and customs, the Tartars, and Russian Orthodoxy (which he believes is too close to paganism due to their use of idols). It really gets quite tiresome. The character himself burns an idol while terrorizing its worshippers putting his caravan at risk. What kind of loving Christianity is this? Really, I found the Crusoe character quite a savage in his parochial beliefs.

What is disturbing to me is if these were commonly held views in the 18th century. Of course, the English had no problems with slavery and servanthood. I don't think Defoe was in disagreement with his protagonist.

These same prejudices are rampant today in the Christian evangelical movement. Even today, they believe that theirs is the only true religion. Sad.

4 stars instead of 5 because the chapters don't correspond in name and size to any of the audiobooks you can find (Library or online) Don't understand why. You can still use the audiobook along with the book but is kind of a nuisance that the audiobook chapters end and start at different points than in the book. I chose this version because NC Wyeth illustrations but it seems it's not the most common edition.
Quality is excellent.

It's a sequel in name only, really the ADVENTURES become MUNDANE.
There are still various seamen and natives, but there is no point.
The book is more of a ficticious diary with a strong religous overtones.

It was not exactly a page turner. There were a few very exciting parts with a lot of drool in between. Way too religious for several chapters in a row. Just when I was about to throw in the towel it picked up again.
It is what it is. Not my fav classic.

La historia es muy entretenida y se lee fácilmente. Lamentablemente la parte final desentona con el resto del libro al volverse excesivamente fantasiosa.
Es interesante también observar que el personaje, que se confiesa un devoto cristiano, no tiene ningún remordimiento en matar o esclavizar gente.

If you're interested in a good (and cheap) critical edition of Gulliver's travels, I strongly recommend the Norton Critical edition. I ordered it by the store and my copy was received in a couple of weeks

Defoe helped to define the modern fictional novel when he wrote about the tales of Robinson Crusoe. The book has a strong religious theme, as was Defoe's intention. However, this version of the text censors out some of the language against what Defoe called the Papist Church (or the Roman Catholic Church) as well as some items which would be considered racially insensitive today (but leaving in much of it as well). I don't understand why this version leaves out some of those parts, as they completely change the story that Defoe intended. I'm not sure that the store knows these texts are censored (not the original) as there is no allusion to it in the book's description.

Everyone knows the story...so the issue is who can read the

literature in a compelling way. Clearly, Martin Shaw has the touch. My only criticism is that this audio Cassette should be made into an audio CD for most modern listeners.

I choose to read books in German to improve my language skills. I found this Robinson Crusoe free download and thought it would be fun to add it to my library as I have read it as a youth in English. Unfortunately, this German version was written in very archaic German. There were terms my online German-English dictionaries did not contain because they have fallen out of use. Most words I could figure out in context, though some defeated even my German wife, whom I frequently pestered with, "what's this mean?"

I still found it fun to read though and might choose to read it again.

Using archaic English and capitalizing every noun might have added to uniqueness of this version of the Robinson Crusoe but I am not that artistic and personally prefer my books use plain English. That's why I returned the book and will be looking for another version that uses plain English.

At the top of my Kindle this fraudulent e-book installed a toolbar-like thing, which covers a few lines of the contents.

The toolbar-like thing reads like "www.doverpublication.c....

I had to reboot my Kindle after being irritated.

These shoes are great - the heel support, high arch are both what I really need. I love them, but they wear out too quickly. So I was thrilled to find another pair at a decent price by shopping on the store.

3.75 stars
When you hear about such a classic your whole life and have ideas of what it is about, but no actual idea of the whole book, it gets you to the point to finally learn the story.

The very beginning of the book as it is being set up for you, is set in the 1600s, though it was written in the 1700s. Think about England at that time and all the maritime work that was being had and further exploration of lands. Robinson Crusoe is ready to break away from his parents and make a name for himself, but after his stubbornness and unkind selfish heart is on his way to do so, he is caught into a shipwreck. This wreck leaves him on an uninhabited island with just a few animals that were on board the ship, some food items, and little else. He spends twenty-eight years on the island, which is insane to me!

Halfway through this story, I was entranced so much by his convictions and thoughts from his learning the Bible, which is basically the only book that did not get destroyed in the shipwreck that he decides to read, which he never had done before. He has a lot of theological conversations with himself and also writes a journal. This was seriously beautifully written up through this part.

It is near the last quarter of the book that I was really not too happy because he goes against some of his convictions, even though he still has quite a few others, and he seems to want to make slaves of people and call himself a ruler and all else. He becomes a bit violent. I can't go into too many details, but perhaps being alone that long on an island can do things to you anyway.

I really was ready to give this nearly five stars when I got to the halfway point of the story, but as it carried along I started to give it less and less.

One thing that is a nuisance about this story was that he constantly says, "In a word. . ."
There is not a word given each time he says that, but a large description. Perhaps I just don't understand the way vocabulary and phrases from the 1700s work, but it was repeated a lot. There were other parts of the story where he did similar things in the writing of overusing phrases to describe things.

I really do think it was good that I now know this story though!! My boys do too!

I've been working my way through the classics and actually reading all of those old familiars whose plots you know but that you've never actually finished. I have been delighted by how many of those books remain current, exciting and entertaining for young readers. "Treasure Island" and "Kidnapped" are as ripping as you could want. "Robin Hood" is a colorful, savvy, witty and steadfast hero who could have been the model for Aragorn son of Arathorn. Perhaps surprisingly, "Pollyanna" is a tough, earnest, inspirational character without the slightest touch of the lame and sentimental goody-goodiness with which her name has become attached. In the same vein, "Rebecca of Sunnybrook Farm" is a take-no-guff pistol. On the other hand, "The Last of the Mohicans" I found to be prolix and almost incomprehensible. "Swiss Family Robinson" was so tediously bland that I cursed the Disney people for saving them from obscurity.

Which brings us to "Robinson Crusoe". While the idea of the castaway more or less originated with and became eternally popular in connection with this book, the book itself is not at all the boys' own, or even stirring, adventure you might expect. Google critical discussions if you like. What you will turn up is very interesting articles about Crusoe as "the Economic Man", or the European colonialist or imperialist, or the radical Protestant. Defoe was a successful businessman and trader in the new economic order of his time, and Crusoe is in many ways a contemplation or examination of what imperialist trade meant culturally, morally, ethically, politically and economically. There are all sorts of paradoxes, inconsistencies, complexities, contradictions and conflicts in how Crusoe approaches moral, ethical, religious and even commercial and entrepreneurial issues throughout this book, and volumes have been written about what Defoe was really getting at in some passages.

So, bottom line, you could teach a college level course just based on this book, and you could spark some fascinating discussions, papers, and points of view. It's offerings are rich and varied. But this is a difficult and demanding read if embraced fully, and not at all the kids shelf actioner the "classic tale" label might suggest. An older reader might enjoy it, but I'd hesitate to press this into the hands of a middle grader.

"Robinson Crusoe" is a fictional autobiography covering about 35 years of the man's life, and several long journeys. (I read the unabridged version.)

Before the main story about Crusoe on the deserted island, he has two shorter adventures.

First, Crusoe leaves England when he's 19 years old and goes to sea with a friend. Almost immediately they are shipwrecked, but he and the survivors return to England.

Next, he goes to sea again, is captured by pirates, and must suffer as a slave of a Moorish (muslim) pirate. Two years later, Crusoe steals a boat and escapes to freedom.

Crusoe then becomes wealthy as an established plantation owner in "the Brasils" of South America.

But when he takes another ocean voyage, he is shipwrecked again. This time, he's the only survivor, stranded alone on a small uninhabited island. (The fictional tropical island is in the Atlantic Ocean, off the coast of Venezuela, somewhere near Trinidad.)

The longest part of the book is the now-classic account of Crusoe's survival and adventures on the island for 28 years.
What does he do with all that time? First, he builds a fortified shelter to live in. He learns to farm a few crops and builds a permanent food supply. He grabs a few wild goats and starts a domesticated herd. Along the way, he is always building, fashioning, or reworking whatever he needs to survive.

Years later, he discovers that cannibals from (apparently) nearby islands sometimes visit his island. Eventually this situation gives the book several fight scenes, and even a gunfight!

Crusoe's famous friend, "Friday," doesn't arrive on the island until late in the book.

Of course, Crusoe ultimately escapes the island, and returns to England.

But because author Daniel Defoe wrote "Robinson Crusoe" in 1719, the book isn't like a modern novel with a clear structure and a climactic ending.

Instead, this story peaks in the long middle section of the book, with the fascinating account of Crusoe's island adventures. But after Crusoe lives happily ever after, the book keeps going.

Author Defoe even adds another little side-adventure episode for Crusoe and Friday that seems irrelevant to the book. So the book's actual ending seems weak compared to the main adventure story.

For good reasons, "Robinson Crusoe" is a classic tale of survival and adventure. It's definitely worth reading at least once.

I have been fortunate enough to humbly listen, on Sundays, when people, in the presence of their fellow Christians (for example, at places that are sometimes dismissingly called 'megachurches') give, for the first time ever in public, their "testimony" - that is, where they describe, even if they are not good at public speaking, how they came to understand that God created us, Jesus saved us, and we are in the world God wants us to be in , with access to heaven. (Sometimes the person giving the testimony has the ability to make the toughest grown man cry, describing the difficulties they remembered (and Robinson's shipwreck is a small difficulty compared to some of the difficulties I have heard about, from people testifying to how they were saved), the hopelessness of the years where one thought God was far off, and the eucatastrophe of realizing that God cares....). This book reads like an adventure story - an ambitious and energetic and fearless young man walks away from an offered job near his hometown and learns how to prosper on sailing boats, and meets with many interesting challenges, and grows old facing those challenges - including shipwrecks (and although you might think a shipwreck is boring to read about, because after all who gets shipwrecked anymore? - well, the author of the book explains why you should care). When reading this book, don't expect the author to describe the thousands of sunsets Crusoe must have watched ( he wrote for a long-ago generation that knew,without being told, what it means to have thousands of sunsets available for the viewing over thousands of well-known rural horizons - they supplied the images) and don't expect the author to accurately describe the fascinating beauty of the tropics, with all its animals and deep-colored plants, and don't expect the author to understand that it is wrong not to consider the feelings of animals and not to consider the advances in political theory of recent centuries - the book is about the human soul, flawed as it is, not about the progress of societal ethics - it is about how the fascinatingly long years of life make some of us better and make some of us worse, it is not about being up to date and progressive on contested social issues. (If it were it would be a much more famous book). Along the way there are interesting details on every page, although, to be fair, the author does not really understand plants and animals, and has nothing to say about the stars (although his main character lived under the brightly starlit night sky for decades and decades): but the author spoke English very well, and there are lots of insightful phrases, sentences, and paragraphs. And, like I said, the structure of the book is admirably sound.

Adventure, bold undertakings, survival strategies and spiritual development all contribute to Daniel Defoe’s timeless tale of Robinson Crusoe, published in 1719.

Shipwrecked on an uninhabited island for nearly twenty-eight years, we venture with Crusoe on how he endures for such an extended period of time...raising goats, cultivating corn and other grains, building shelters, potential threats from neighboring cannibals, his common sense tactics, making do with what is available, etc. Although possibly inspired from true case histories of others, Defoe nonetheless puts forth an exciting read.

I am certainly no literary scholar but there does seem to be an underlying theme in this fictitious novel...that being, we are all upon our own island. What we do day to day will no doubt shape our future.
As Crusoe philosophized, “...consider what you enjoy rather than what you want.”

And as a side bar...this review is in reference to the Aerie Books Edition...the store seems to put most reviews of this book under a number of editions.

Robinson Crusoe is set in the late 1600s, being published in 1719. It is a book about much more
than adventures on a deserted island. In fact, it takes a long while before Crusoe even gets
shipwrecked on the island. In the first part we get to follow his conflict both with himself and
his parents as young adult with a desire to see the world but held back by worries and fears and urges
to choose the safe life at home. A theme any young person today, over 300 years later,
will immediately recognise.

As with any good book, this and other themes addressed are time-less, deeply ingrained properties of the human
condition. Defoe captures the fickleness of spirits (swearing never to set foot again on a ship after
almost being shipwrecked, but having forgotten all about it the next day when the sun is out again),
the vast depths of despair and agony (Crusoe has many dark, lonely moments in his loneliness and
hopelessness on the island), but also the fantastic resilience and achievements a human being
is capable of.

I especially liked that Crusoe is constantly terrified and anxious, even paranoid. He is, as you would
be yourself if you found yourself in this situation. Full of despair and terror, but fighting for survival
and always keeping some hope alive. In many ways his struggle on the island in an inspiration for
how hard work, planning, and being careful can give deliverance in even the most hopeless of
situations.

The middle part of the book, in his early days on the island, offer deep insights into the human
psyche under extreme conditions, when Crusoe is torn between feeling very lucky to be the
only survivor of the shipwreck and very unlucky to have ended up in such a hopeless
and bleak situation. He can only handle his life fate by taking to religion, in some sense
finding the hope to carry on by thinking there may be some entity out there that
can save him. Again, one feels like this is how most people would react. He goes through
a journey from feeling mostly bitter and unlucky to finding thanks for every day that he is
alive and kept safe from illness and misfortune. That life attitude is eventually what
keep him going and saves him - he doesn't let bitterness win.

Many other good passages and themes, including the amazing ability of our emotions
and intuitions to guide us right, when all logical thinking says something else.
Cruseo uses his intuitions extensively, and logical thinking mostly for long term
planning and being aware of his surroundings and designing survival strategies.
His combination of carefulness and reliance on feelings serves as Defoes recipe
for a good life, no doubt. And somehow, this story has survived as probably the best
told fiction of how life attitude and keeping hope alive in the face of extreme hopelessness,
can get anyone on this planet through life.

Possibly based on the true account of Alexander Selkirk, Robinson Crusoe is set some decades before that unfortunate event, in the mid-1600's. Against the warnings of his father and the pleadings of his mother, young Robinson Crusoe resolves to go off on adventures, which plan pans out like so: "never any young adventurer's misfortunes, I believe, began sooner, or continued longer than mine" (p. 16.) Indeed, by the time the prodigal son returns home, his parents are no more, and he is on the verge of becoming an old man. No doubt the book's popularity has had much to do with the obvious moral that a son disobeys his parents at his own peril. Notwithstanding the divine oversight that saves Crusoe from perishing time after time, the misfortunes that make this care necessary may be enough to discourage some young man from tempting Fate.

Though `something fatal in that propension of Nature' (p. 11) is said to drive Crusoe to disobedience and misery, the effect of this reflection is not licentious. The concept of being predestinated to misery tends to produce revulsion from those acts that might fulfill the prophecy. So there is no cause to fear the book on that account.

As nearly obvious as the moral on obedience is the moral on contentment. The story may be interpreted as the fallout from not being content with what Providence has supplied. Somewhere in between poverty and riches are the safest and happiest stations in life to be found, according to Proverbs 30.8. This verse and the teachings that surround it are alluded to on page 12. In fact, the Proverb is well preached there. `The middle state' is the blessing Crusoe is born into and so soon gives up at great personal cost.

The opportunities he gets to settle back into that blessed state in spite of having `broken through good advice' (p. 39) is what breaks open the moral on God's forbearance, which moral persists until Crusoe is finally brought to repentance by the fact of divine patience breaking in upon him (pp. 92, 128.) This awakening to the goodness of God causes Crusoe to rethink his past judgment of things. He had supposed that the grain springing up beside his makeshift hut was due to some miracle of Providence, for example. Then when he remembered pouring some chicken feed out where the grains were now growing, his "religious thankfulness to God's Providence began to abate" (p. 80.) But Robinson Crusoe, once enlightened, sees that the train of events necessary to the remarkable blessing of growing grain is a wonder that merits thankfulness to God as much as a miracle would. Present-day miracle-mongers might learn from this. They are like Crusoe before his conversion: their religion is deflated so long as no miracles are happening. "And I add this part here, to hint to whoever shall read it, that whenever they come to a true sense of things, they will find deliverance from sin a much greater blessing than deliverance from affliction" (p. 96.)

Robinson Crusoe is a narrative catalogue of morals. For those seeking to learn the basics of sorrow leading to repentance in the easiest possible way, but with some force, a novel like this might faithfully serve. And it's as clean and righteous a novel as one can wish for. Notice how discreetly Defoe describes a bodily function that your modern novelists would take advantage of for the sake of being what they call `true to life': "in short, I turned away my face from the horrid spectacle; my stomach grew sick, and I was just at the point of fainting, when Nature discharged the order from my stomach" (p. 158.) Class resists the allure to be crass.

Which leads naturally to a comment or two on Daniel Defoe's style. His sense of rhythm is superb, which he sometimes achieves by combining the right amount of syllables with similar sounding words: "It is not easy for any one, who has not been in the like condition, to describe or conceive the consternation of men in such circumstances" (p. 45.) At times he closes a sentence oddly, which keeps him from slipping into cliché boredom: "and shot him into the head again which dispatched him quite" (p. 33.) You might say that Defoe, like Crusoe, `called a council in his thoughts' (p. 57) in order to arrive, only for different reasons. The novel's faults are few and paltry. It may be that penguins never journey as far north as Trinidad (pp. 107, 200), the mention of which gives us the most certain idea of where Crusoe's desolate island paradise generally is. Would it get dark there during the rainy season, or any time of the year, for that matter, as early as seven o'clock? (p. 79.) Such matters are not worth checking out. There's only one cumbersome sentence in the whole book, a burdensome affair of twenty lines (p. 183.) But even this can be gotten hold of without too much strain. The worst error is Crusoe's assumption that an anonymous kidnap victim is Christian, for which reason he fights off the savages preparing to kill and eat him (p. 216.) But this may be just Crusoe's fault, not Defoe's; for all we know the author put that in on purpose to show a character flaw in the chief subject of his book.

The story of Crusoe is much occupied with relating the mundane details of how to survive and then prosper on a deserted island. A sense of wonder is maintained through all of that by observations on incidental events: "I believe it was the first gun that had been fired since the creation of the world" (p. 56.) This sense of wonder is executed by tantalizing speculations too, conjectures on the nature of what we call gut instinct (pp. 177, 230.) These lines of guesswork come right up near the edge of superstition. Maybe one of them walks off the edge into dark, dangerous territory (p. 166.) The story does contain `a whole collection of wonders' (p. 238), by which is meant `a life of Providence's chequerwork' (p. 278.) But this recitation of so many wonders is a little choked by pages and pages of detail on necessity being the mother of invention on this island. Because of that, mainly, this novel, like Pilgrim's Progress, continues longer than it should, and makes for much reading for too little gain. Had it been cut to half, the impression would have been more wonderful, and Robinson Crusoe would be known today as one of the greatest short stories. As a novel, however, it is good but not great. This edition is sketched by George Cruikshank, `the preeminent English caricaturist and book illustrator of the 19th century.' These twenty-two illustrations, along with the glossary at the end, make for pleasant, carefree reading.

For Christmas, I ordered an mp3 player (Library of Classics) that was pre-loaded with 100 works of classic literature in an audio format. Each work is in the public domain and is read by amateurs, so the quality of the presentation is hit or miss. This was the third novel I've completed (the first two being A Tale of Two Cities and Around the World in 80 Days) and like the first two, the reader did not detract from the experience, and was in fact quite good.

Robinson Crusoe was written in the 17th century by Daniel DeFoe and is one of the oldest novels written in the English language. Despite this, it is not difficult to read (or listen to) in the least. While there are a few affectations and instances of unfamiliar "period" language and references, I never found this to be a problem.

The story is well known; an English mariner becomes shipwrecked and stranded on a desert island for many years, ultimately joined by his man Friday (a local native). The novel however, begins far sooner and spends some time detailing Crusoe's early life and adventures. A good 75% of the story, however, takes place on the island, located off the coast of South America near the mouth of the Orinoco River.

Luckily, Crusoe is not completely without provisions or means of survival and the "eight and twenty" years he spends on the island are filled with his ingenuity and seemingly never ending industry in making his abode not only livable but comfortably so.

This is very much a period piece with religion playing a not insignificant role, though not overbearingly so. It is, more than anything, quite entertaining and even enlightening. I must confess being somewhat pleasantly surprised that such an old work played so well in current times.

Robinson Crusoe has to be the unluckiest man alive. Rebelling against his father's wishes, he yearns for a life of adventure on the high seas. On his very first voyage, his ship is caught in a storm, and Robinson narrowly escapes the sinking vessel. On his second voyage, Crusoe is captured by Turkish pirates and forced into slavery until he finally manages to escape after several months. Still persisting in his rebellion, Robinson takes to the seas a third time. His third voyage is the most disastrous of all when another storm strikes, and Crusoe, the only survivor, is washed up on a deserted island.

It is some six months into his isolation that Crusoe is stricken with a fever and fears that he may die. He turns to the books that he rescued from his foundered ship, and for the first time, pulls out the bible. Upon opening the book at random, he sees these words: Call upon me in the day of trouble, and I will deliver, and thou shalt glorify me. Throughout the remainder of his long stay on the island, Robinson Crusoe gradually comes to the realization that his misfortunes have not been the result of bad luck, but rather he has been delivered from his former sinful and rebellious life. This audiobook is a shining example of how God uses the tribulations in our lives, to lift us up to a higher purpose. That theme culminates with the following lines, which occur during one of Robinson's introspective moments:

I have been, in all my circumstances, a memento to those who are touched with the general plague of mankind, whence, for aught I know, one-half of their miseries flow. I mean, that of not being satisfied with the station wherein God and nature had placed them.
Aside from the spirituality of the novel, Robinson Crusoe has always appealed to the boy in me, as I'm sure it does for many others. Along with fantasies of building a raft and setting off down the river ala Mark Twain, and following a tunnel to the center of the earth ala Jules Verne, I often daydreamed of being stranded on a tropical island and building a hut and gathering food and all that. I'm not sure why that appeals to me, but I'm obviously not the only one. Look at Jules Verne's The Mysterious Island, William Golding's Lord of the Flies, or the Tom Hanks movie Cast Away, not to mention Gilligan and his cohorts.

Okay, I've rambled on long enough. Obviously I enjoyed Robinson Crusoe very much. I've read it once or twice before, but this is the first time I truly appreciated it. And to think, it was written almost 300 years ago!

Old books like Robinson Crusoe typically have more than one audio version available. The one I listened to featured narrator Ron Keith. Ron Keith did a decent enough job with the narration of Robinson Crusoe. Nothing spectacular, but good enough. His mild British accent fit the novel. There is almost no dialogue in this audiobook, so there's really very little to grade him on. The nice thing about an old book like this is that there are usually multiple audio versions available. At audible.com I saw various recordings with top-name narrators like John Lee, Simon Vance, and Dick Hill. Take your pick, and enjoy the audiobook.

I first read this many decades ago after watching the excellent BBC serial on children's television that I think was a French production. Coming back to it all these years later I'm struck, once again, by how, although appearing slightly `overblown' for some modern tastes, engaging the writing is and how the story of this young man's gruelling coming of age still resonates down the centuries. Thus, one understands why the book quickly attained classic status and has remained a favourite for more than 300 years.

According to Colin Wilson (in A Criminal History of Mankind) Defoe based the story on the adventures of a Scottish pirate named Alexander Selkirk who, following a quarrel with his pirate captain, asked to be marooned on what was then, one of the uninhabited islands of the Juan Fernandez group about 600 km off the coast of Chile in the South Pacific. After five years Selkirk return to England and became an overnight `celebrity' and Defoe (who began life, in 1660, as Daniel Foe) went to see him in Bristol in 1713 and probably paid for his written reminiscences. The interesting point to note is that Defoe was an agent provocateur and spy, a kind of forerunner to those more recently employed by MI5, and built up a network of spies as well as spending time `inside' and in the pillory!

Why it's interesting, at least to this reader, is that this seems to indicate a certain type of person; i.e. not particularly pious, unlike his fictional creation Robinson Crusoe, who, during his log solitary sojourn on his fictional island, develops, possibly, quite understandably under the circumstances, a distinct religious sensibility and frequently and at length thanks God for providing for him so bounteously. Crusoe reflects on this many times during the book and this is just one example of a degree of repetition that a good editor would surely have remedied.

Nevertheless, as I said above, this book is a classic for a good reason and provides hours of enjoyment for the patient reader in addition to a great deal of food for thought!

I recently read Robinson Crusoe again and while the story was written in the 1700’s, it is still fresh. Daniel Defoe did an amazing job of telling the tale of a shipwrecked man that struggled to survive while maintaining his sanity. Unlike the Robinson Crusoe movies, there was a lot more to this story and it reminded me that the rules of the open sea were much looser in days past. This was an amazing work and it was a good book to read again.

Well...this is one of those ultra-famous books that I'd heard about for my entire life and finally decided to read. To be blunt, it was mediocre. One of the problems with the book is that it's dated. Daniel Defoe was a puritan, and his protagonist - the eponymous Crusoe - comes to share Defoe's ideals. Thus, readers are subjected to many passages in which Defoe, through Crusoe, waxes philosophical about the importance of obeying one's father, and doing one's duty to God. At the same time, we must do our best to overlook the overt racism of the time: the slave-owning Crusoe; the concept of the "noble savage," who - rescued from his own culture - comes to love his white, western master; the one-dimensional and inaccurate depiction of native South Americans. It's all a bit hard to stomach.

In spite of this, I might have been able to put aside my modern prejudices (and overlooked Defoe's antiquated ones), had I found the book to be a good adventure story. But I didn't. I found Crusoe, though innovative, and resourceful, to be frustratingly timid. It takes him years to work up the courage to explore the small, uninhabited island on which he is cast away. When he finally works up the gumption to cross to the other side of the island, he observes the mainland of South America in the distance. But does he make an effort to reach the mainland, where he might - for example - cruise along the coast, looking for western settlements? No. He lives for decades within sight of land, and never makes the attempt - all the while bemoaning his fate. Made me want to scream at the guy.

Finally, the book is a oddly put together. The main story - in which Crusoe is shipwrecked and stranded on a small island - is bookended by short, unrelated adventures. Why Defoe put these little tidbits in on either side of the main plot is beyond me; they are a distraction and nothing more.

All in all, I was not impressed. I suspect that - for its time - it was an exciting and wonderful adventure story. But I also think that the bar was much lower back then. Some classics are timeless and ring as true today as they did when they were written. Others are not. Guess which one this is?

The story itself is interesting. I like how it doesn't just start with a shipwreck and goes from there but rather it starts with stuff that leads up to the shipwreck. We know why the main character was on the ship in the first place.

I tend to enjoy survivalist stories like this as they make me think about the "what ifs" of being in a similar situation. This book, while good, seems to give the main character a good number of advantages from the get go. He is given guns, powder, and other supplies from the get go. Seems kind of unfair to me for a survivalist story. I did enjoy the trial and error that Crusoe goes through when making tools, planting crops, and making food (bread, butter, etc).

There's also a fair amount about God, salvation, and redemption in this book, which surprised me a good deal. I don't feel it was overdone given the situation the main character is in, but some might feel it's "too much" and be turned off from the book.

Overall I think it's a solid read. It's not great, but it's definitely good.

As a prototype of the early novel,Robinson Crusoe shows truth to individual experience: a sequence of episodes held together because it happens to one person,with a central character so convincing and set in so solid and specific a world,Defoe is credited with being the 1st writer of realistic fiction.The novel form showed the importance of individual experience,reality discovered through the senses.The story is based squarely upon the true account of Alexander Selkirk who went to sea.Due to this imaginative reworking of essential material it gives the work its realism.Defoe kept closely to the actual facts,stimulating his talent for minute and accumulative detail.As a psychological study in isolation it may not seem convincing,but as the novel was then in its infancy,RC owes more to the previous literary pedigree of Puritan spiritual autobiographies and allegories like Bunyan's Grace Abounding.A certain Tim Cruso was a fellow dissenter with whom he went to school,who wrote religious pamphlets.It is a perfect amalgam of the specific and the general.The narrative interest combines the adventure story(eg the footprint in the sand) and the exotic fascination with travel literature,human behaviour under conditions of difficulty and pressure.

Crusoe's survival and his enterprising behaviour are seen as expressions of Defoe's own belief in the mercantilist mentality of the expanding British Empire,the marooned Crusoe manufacturing his clothes and educating Man Friday being emblematic of the superiority of the civilized man and the nature of the noble savage.Crusoe's island sojourn is viewed as a period of spiritual gestation and rebirth.This early novel arose out of moralistic intent.Defoe had wrapped up his own life in the emblematic life of Robinson Crusoe.The power and popularity of the novel comes from (i) its truthfulness,the magic of verisimilitude;(ii)the ventriloquism of the author which induces identification with the lonely castaway, the idea of man in a state of perfect isolation.

To quote Wyndam Lewis:"I have a pen that nakedly goes,
without more fuss than Dryden's or Defoe's".

Robinson Crusoe was published in London in 1719. Its author is Daniel Defoe (1660-1731) a Puritan pamphleteer, newspaper man and author of such famed English novels as: Moll Flanders, Roxana and the non-fictional gem "A Journal of the Plague Year".
The Plot: The fictional Robinson Crusoe was born in York in the first half of the seventeenth century. He was a bit of a wastrel who longed for a seagoing career. He went on to own a plantation in Brazil becoming involved in the slave trade. Crusoe was shipwrecked on a desolate island in the Caribbean. All of his shipmates were drowned.
Crusoe was able to salvage tools, food and plants from the wrecked ship. He lived on the island for 28 years before he was rescued enabling him to return to England. During his long sojourn on the island Crusoe rescued his man Friday from cannibals. Friday was also a cannibal but was converted to Christianity by Crusoe. Crusoe also fought pirates who landed in his last year on the island . The bulk of the short novel deals with how Crusoe managed to survive. He did so by domesticating goats, training a pet parrot and planting various crops. He was very ingenious in his ability to survive.
Crusoe underwent a spiritual transformation on the island repenting of his many sins. Defore was a Puritan and Crusoe became a devout Christian. The shipwrecked man read the Bible often praying and praising God for having saved him from the ocean and a sinful life.
The novel is valuable for many reasons. Some of which are:
a, It is one of the first great English novels
b. It is a bildungsroman in which we trace the development of Crusoe's maturity and spiritual regeneration
c. It has influenced countless writers from Robert Louis Stevenson to James Barrie, Johann D. Wyss and Richard Hughes.
Robinson Crusoe has been loved by generations of young and more mature lovers of adventures at sea.
d. The book shows the importance of the Protestant work ethic of independence and hard work to achieve goals.
Everyone should peruse this English classic!

This is one of those classics that a lot more people know about, and even have opinions about, than have read it. And somehow I'd missed reading it up till now, myself. I found it surprisingly readable -- after all, it was published in 1719, in archaic English, and it is notoriously tedious in its repetitive and detailed accounts of Crusoe's planting and other activities to sustain himself on his island. The detail is almost Thoreau-like, in its accounting of barley-planting and harvesting, bread-making, etc.

You could read the story as a straight-forward adventure. How does Crusoe come to be marooned? How can he sustain himself, for over 20 years, most of it alone, on the island? How will he survive against the native cannibals on other islands? Will he ever escape the island? All good stuff, and it helps to make the book more of a page-turner than you might think.

But another way to look at it is as a kind of (fictional) memoir of personal growth, from the perspective of an early 18th century Englishman. Defoe himself was bound for the ministry as a young man, but changed course. His character, Crusoe, abandons not the ministry itself but the normal course of life set out for him by his family. He leaves home at a young age, against his father's wishes, and sets out to sea. He wanders through adventures along the Africa coast before his fateful trip across the ocean to "the Brasils".

Crusoe's life on the island begins with self-pity, but he undergoes both a spiritual and psychological awakening -- one that inspires him to the hard work and strong mind that support his many years alone on the island. At first, this awakening is a kind of religious conversion, and Defoe revisits that theme of the lone man's relationship with God throughout the book. But it comes and goes, self-consciously in the writing. Defoe does not fall into a simple story of reliance on faith to get Crusoe through his ordeal -- to a great extent, it's Crusoe who gets Crusoe through his ordeal. In fact, there is a consistent ambivalence toward faith throughout the story right to the end, excepting Crusoe's initial spiritual awakening.

The story can be read as a kind of externalization of the path of self-development that anyone growing into adulthood must take.

The role of Friday was a little surprising to me. Mainly, what's surprising is how late in the story Friday arrives. It's hard not to comment on Crusoe's treatment of Friday, how Friday pledges his service to Crusoe after Crusoe has rescued him from (other) cannibals, and how Crusoe first teaches Friday to call him "Master". Much of this has to be seen as a reflection of an early 18th century outlook, including Crusoe's conversion of Friday to Christianity. It has all the feel of assumed superiority, myths about the spiritual depravity of native peoples, and all the rest. No excuses for any of that.

Robinson Crusoe is one of those books I first read as a kid in junior high school - and I still remember my excitement about the great adventure it described. The funny thing, though, is that during that first reading the moral of the story went right over my head. It is only now, having re-read the book as an adult, that I see that Crusoe's hard-earned spiritual transformation from godless man to believer might just have been Daniel Defoe's main point. While I was being thrilled by Crusoe's battles with pirates and cannibals, and his struggle to survive from one week to the next, an equally important story was happening inside Crusoe's head.

Most everyone knows the basic plot of Robinson Crusoe: a young Englishman, seeking adventure, goes to sea and eventually, after already having escaped from Barbary Coast pirates, finds himself stranded on a desert island where he manages to survive for 28 years by avoiding the cannibals who use the island as their private picnic grounds. Crusoe finally makes his way back to England, but only after doing battle with both the cannibals and a group of mutinous sailors who stumble upon his island. No boy-reader would argue with a story like that one.

But most of the "action" happens before Crusoe is shipwrecked and during the last two years of his stay on the island. In between, are the years Crusoe spends salvaging necessities from the shipwreck and figuring out how to manufacture items that he is unable to find on the ship before its remains wash away forever. The brilliance with which Crusoe was able to make the most of everything he carried ashore intrigued me on my first reading of the novel (and I probably enjoyed that aspect of the book even more than I enjoyed the battles Crusoe was involved in, truth be told) but I do not recall being overly impressed by Crusoe's belief that small "miracles" were being worked on his behalf by a god he, early on, barely believed existed.

By modern standards, this is not a politically correct novel, but it should not be judged by modern standards. That a three-century-old novel can still appeal to modern youth is remarkable, and Robinson Crusoe should be appreciated as a snapshot in time, a novel reflecting the racial and political attitudes of its day. Recommend Crusoe to an early-teen-reader of your acquaintance and watch what happens.

I often wonder how many people, like myself, have a list (as well as a shelf, or two, or more) of classic novels, known the world over, that they 'plan' to read one day...Robinson Crusoe has, for me, long been one of those novels...but now I can finally claim to have read it.

Upon completing this book, it's easy to understand why it's been hailed as such a classic for so long. An intriquing premise, to put a man alone on a deserted island when he left his home behind to travel the world instead of being trapped in one place - just to find himself trapped in another. Easy prose and an expedient passage of time make this one of the most accessible 'classics' I've ever read, which also, to my mind, lends to the thought that it's 'young adult' fiction, as it would appeal to not only the interest but the intellect of a juvenile reader.

However...don't be fooled...Robinson Crusoe is very much an adult tale with adult situations and conflicts that require adult resolution. Beyond the shipwreck, despair, and eventual acquiescense of Robinson to his surroundings, and the manner in which he builds and outfits his new home, Robinson faces dangers from all sides in his island 'isolation'....beset upon by animals, savages, and even cannibals, Robinson Crusoe strives to be master of his surroundings and his own savior as he continually changes his habits in order to adapt to newfound threats to his safety and well-being. Robinson is faced with the choice of 'kill or be killed', and how that might conflict with his Christian values, as well as the task of explaining to someone how to kill and eat a living being (specifically, man) is amoral and wrong, despite the regular devouring of animal flesh to survive.

As I said, time passes quickly in this surprisingly short (300 pages!) novel that spans more than two decades of his life. There are numerous reviews that contain more plot synopsis to be had, so rather than re-tread familiar ground, I'll stick with what surprised me most about the book, having heard of it for years before I picked it up to read.

1. The famous 'footprint' scene....this neither thrilled nor overwhelmed me, as others have described it...I found it to be very 'matter of fact' in its place in the tale, as I found Robinson's reaction to finding it. True, it necessitated changes in his habits, and yet for something that others make so much of, I found it to be much ado about nothing, really. Maybe I'm just not reading enough into it.

2. 'Friday' does not appear until 2/3 of the way through the novel. Being one of the most famous 'sidekicks' in literary history, I was surprised to not meet him sooner and have him play even a larger role in the story.

3. The way the passing of time is described so nonchalantly, it's almost as if you are reading about a mere month or two, not year after year of isolation. When Crusoe sums up the number of years he spent on the island, it gave me pause to realize that so much time had actually passed in this story.

This is a wonderful read...chock full of old fashioned moral lessons to be gleaned...which I'll leave up to individual readers to either try to ascertain from it, or not.

Regardless of your reason for picking it up, do pick up Robinson Crusoe...it won't let you down.

Robinson Crusoe is one of the few books that truly everyone should read and that nearly everyone who reads anything but current bestsellers has read. This has almost as much to do with its incredible importance and near-unmatched influence as inherent quality, though this last is substantial. The book has long been called the first Western novel, and it remains one of the most widely-read and beloved nearly three centuries later and continues to hold a mighty sway over writers and the popular consciousness.

There are many reasons for this. Most obvious and important is sheer readability; the book's age is near-unbelievable, as it reads almost as well as ever despite archaic spellings and punctuation. Unlike nearly all classics, it need not be drastically edited, footnoted, and introduced for comprehension. This is hardly true of even many twentieth century works, much less ones of such vintage. Even casual readers who have almost no experience with classics, to say nothing of ones three hundred years old, can pick it up with practically no trouble. Fast-paced and deeply engrossing, it quickly draws us in and never lets go. Initial readers thought it simply too good to be true; they had never seen anything like it - scarcely even thought it possible -, flocking to it as people now flock to blockbuster films and for much the same reason. This persists to a surprisingly large degree; the book is immensely entertaining even after all this time, drawing in readers of all ages and continuing to be frequently referenced, parodied, and adapted.

The plot itself is of course also key. Robinson is a rollicking, suspense-filled, action-packed adventure of the sort that did not really reappear until over a century later with writers like Dumas. The book was immediately seen as first-rate escapism and continues to be such; we lose ourselves in Crusoe's adventures in a way few books - or any other medium - allow. It is near-ubiquitously imitated - so many clichés began here that it is almost unbelievable - but never equaled.

The character of Crusoe is also profoundly important. One of literature's great figures, he captured initial readers' imaginations in an unprecedented way and is still a towering presence. Drastically different as his experience is from all but a few people's, he has the common humanity and verisimilitude necessary for a truly identifiable character. We feel with and for him almost as if we are him, experiencing his ups and downs much as if we lived them.

This points to another integral facet - stirring realism. Daniel Defoe set a new standard here, and it has in many ways rarely been equaled. Conventionally fantastic as Crusoe's adventures are, the near-documentary style has made them at least as real for millions of readers over centuries as anything in history books or the news - or even their own lives. This ground-breaking, titanically influential feature dramatically changed the very idea of what fiction could be - nay, in the view of most novel historians, all but invented it, at least in the West. Literature has never been the same, and many would say it has never been as good.

Robinson is also of great historical value. Though clearly far from showing what everyday early eighteenth century European life was like, the book gives a very good idea of its thoughts and customs as well as much background information. This lends Robinson value beyond literature but also brings up the greatest difficulty in reading it today - the glorification of values long since rightly deemed unacceptable. Strongly Eurocentric, many parts of Robinson now seem distinctly racist, and it unashamedly champions colonialism - a movement whose destructive tendencies we have learned all too well - when still in its heyday. Some will not be able to get past this, which is understandable, but it is important to see that Robinson was truly a product of its time - indeed in many ways epitomized it. Influential critics even see it is an unapologetic colonialist allegory. This is not an excuse but an explanation. The book shows the early eighteenth century world as it seemed to Europeans - bad as well as good; some of the latter would not have been thought so at the time, but this only increases the historical value. Robinson is thus almost ethnographical - though, as with the allegory interpretation, this was almost certainly not Defoe's intent; its sociological value is probably at least as great as its historical value. More fundamentally, despite a plot that was always in many ways fantastic and has now become so popular as to seem almost hopelessly clichéd, the book remains viable because it speaks to something deep within it. Though not philosophical or otherwise containing the depth of meaning some find essential to truly great literature, its vivid dramatization of can-do optimism in utter adversity's face has always appealed to the best in us. The eternal values of courage, determination, and perseverance have rarely been better or more memorably shown, making Robinson one of the most timeless depictions of the human spirit's endurance.

One admittedly large caveat aside, Robinson is simply essential for anyone even remotely interested in literature. The few who may be reading this and have not read it must do so immediately.

Robinson Crusoe is one of the few books that truly everyone should read and that nearly everyone who reads anything but current bestsellers has read. This has almost as much to do with its incredible importance and near-unmatched influence as inherent quality, though this last is substantial. The book has long been called the first Western novel, and it remains one of the most widely-read and beloved nearly three centuries later and continues to hold a mighty sway over writers and the popular consciousness.

There are many reasons for this. Most obvious and important is sheer readability; the book's age is near-unbelievable, as it reads almost as well as ever despite archaic spellings and punctuation. Unlike nearly all classics, it need not be drastically edited, footnoted, and introduced for comprehension. This is hardly true of even many twentieth century works, much less ones of such vintage. Even casual readers who have almost no experience with classics, to say nothing of ones three hundred years old, can pick it up with practically no trouble. Fast-paced and deeply engrossing, it quickly draws us in and never lets go. Initial readers thought it simply too good to be true; they had never seen anything like it - scarcely even thought it possible -, flocking to it as people now flock to blockbuster films and for much the same reason. This persists to a surprisingly large degree; the book is immensely entertaining even after all this time, drawing in readers of all ages and continuing to be frequently referenced, parodied, and adapted.

The plot itself is of course also key. Robinson is a rollicking, suspense-filled, action-packed adventure of the sort that did not really reappear until over a century later with writers like Dumas. The book was immediately seen as first-rate escapism and continues to be such; we lose ourselves in Crusoe's adventures in a way few books - or any other medium - allow. It is near-ubiquitously imitated - so many clichés began here that it is almost unbelievable - but never equaled.

The character of Crusoe is also profoundly important. One of literature's great figures, he captured initial readers' imaginations in an unprecedented way and is still a towering presence. Drastically different as his experience is from all but a few people's, he has the common humanity and verisimilitude necessary for a truly identifiable character. We feel with and for him almost as if we are him, experiencing his ups and downs much as if we lived them.

This points to another integral facet - stirring realism. Daniel Defoe set a new standard here, and it has in many ways rarely been equaled. Conventionally fantastic as Crusoe's adventures are, the near-documentary style has made them at least as real for millions of readers over centuries as anything in history books or the news - or even their own lives. This ground-breaking, titanically influential feature dramatically changed the very idea of what fiction could be - nay, in the view of most novel historians, all but invented it, at least in the West. Literature has never been the same, and many would say it has never been as good.

Robinson is also of great historical value. Though clearly far from showing what everyday early eighteenth century European life was like, the book gives a very good idea of its thoughts and customs as well as much background information. This lends Robinson value beyond literature but also brings up the greatest difficulty in reading it today - the glorification of values long since rightly deemed unacceptable. Strongly Eurocentric, many parts of Robinson now seem distinctly racist, and it unashamedly champions colonialism - a movement whose destructive tendencies we have learned all too well - when still in its heyday. Some will not be able to get past this, which is understandable, but it is important to see that Robinson was truly a product of its time - indeed in many ways epitomized it. Influential critics even see it is an unapologetic colonialist allegory. This is not an excuse but an explanation. The book shows the early eighteenth century world as it seemed to Europeans - bad as well as good; some of the latter would not have been thought so at the time, but this only increases the historical value. Robinson is thus almost ethnographical - though, as with the allegory interpretation, this was almost certainly not Defoe's intent; its sociological value is probably at least as great as its historical value. More fundamentally, despite a plot that was always in many ways fantastic and has now become so popular as to seem almost hopelessly clichéd, the book remains viable because it speaks to something deep within it. Though not philosophical or otherwise containing the depth of meaning some find essential to truly great literature, its vivid dramatization of can-do optimism in utter adversity's face has always appealed to the best in us. The eternal values of courage, determination, and perseverance have rarely been better or more memorably shown, making Robinson one of the most timeless depictions of the human spirit's endurance.

One admittedly large caveat aside, Robinson is simply essential for anyone even remotely interested in literature. The few who may be reading this and have not read it must do so immediately.

Title: Robinson Crusoe
Author: Daniel Defoe
Hardcover: 304 pages
Publisher: Barnes & Noble
ISBN: 1-59308-169-3
October 2004, $7.95
Genre: Fiction/Classic

"In his own words, Robinson Crusoe tells how a terrible storm drowned all his shipmates and left him marooned on a deserted island. Forced to overcome despair, doubt, and self-pit, he struggles to create a life for himself in the wilderness. From practically nothing, Crusoe painstakingly learns how to make pottery, grow crops, domesticate livestock, and build a house. His many adventures are recounted in vivid detail, including a fierce battle with cannibals and his rescue of Friday, the man who becomes his trusted companion."

~from the jacket flap

----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

There are two essential plots in Robinson Crusoe, the primary plot being external - his travels and adventures, and the subplot being internal - his search for and discovery of faith. There are also two different scales on which to weigh this book. The one most commonly used is that which measures a book's literary value. It is undeniable that Robinson Crusoe made a tremendous contribution to the adventure novel genre... in fact, it was this book which founded said genre and inspired a host of other Crusoe-like tales throughout the following centuries including such bestsellers as The Swiss Family Robinson and Lord of the Flies. In a sense, Defoe unleashed the human desire for adventure, simple living, and an escape from society - a sanctuary, Crusoe's island. But what Defoe started, later authors improved upon. Minus the old English, Crusoe is still difficult to thoroughly enjoy simply because a great deal of the book moves at an excruciatingly slow pace. Over a third of the book is spent recounting in minute detail Crusoe's daily tasks while living on the island completely alone. The first bit of the book is enjoyable enough, the last part is certainly the best, and some of Crusoe's survival techniques are worth reading about in detail, but not all of them. Not over a hundred pages of them. If I were anything less than a compulsive reader, I would have stopped around the hundred page mark and missed out on the fine ending. Overall, Crusoe's tale is fascinating and enlightening, however, that middle section is just too tedious.

The second scale by which this book can be weighed is that of morality. The whole book is, in essence, about a man searching for purpose. He at first abandons home and family to go seek it on the high seas and ends up finding it in the place he would have least expected. Twenty some odd years completely isolated from human company on a desolate island with no one to talk to and plenty of struggle to survive opens Crusoe's heart to God, which gives his whole experience true purpose, an element lacking in so many adventure tales. This part of the novel is often overlooked, but deserves recognition.

*** A couple of notes about the B&N edition: First off, I am not at all fond of the introduction by L.J. Swingle. Swingle obviously dislikes any sort of religious thinking and comments that "a basic question arises from reading Defoe's novel is whether we should take the book to be somewhat akin to an upgraded version of John Bunyan's Pilgrim's Progress (1678, 1684), a story designed finally, like an adventure-coated pill, to cultivate our own religious consciousness." If you ask me, our friend, Mr. Swingle, sounds unattractively cynic. Secondly, I dislike the fact that Barnes & Noble found it necessary to include Karl Marx's review of Crusoe in the commentary section at the back of the book. Suffice it to say that Marx completely distorts and borderline mutilates the values and purpose of the work as a whole. I think B&N could have found a more constructive commentary to enlighten the minds of readers. I realize that this is a matter of conjecture.

Part of: The Robinson Crusoe Trilogy
Robinson Crusoe (Book One)
The Farther Adventures of Robinson Crusoe (Book Two)
Serious Reflections during the Life and Surprising Adventures of Robinson Crusoe (Book Three)

If you liked this book try... Kidnapped by Robert Louis Stevenson, Treasure Island by Robert Louis Stevenson, Kim by Rudyard Kipling

In the mid-17th century, Robinson, Crusoe was born in York, England. He could be follow his father plan to get a Ordinary life,but Robinson like to adventure, so he going to be a sailor. One day,Cargo ship crashed, Robinson went to a island alone. If other people face the same situation, maybe the people will die or listen to the god, but Robinson didn’t, he Building a house, raising goats, farming land, and building boats. Also he save a man called”Friday”. A day, a cargo ship was hijacked by thugs,and Robinson saved all the crew and the cargo ship. He stop his island life, go back England. This story tell us, when we face a dilemma,don’t give up yourself. You never know how good are you. A person should not be pessimistically disappointed in adversity, but strive to see positive factors and then change his passive situation.

Received as a gift. First time it came defective tiny writing 3 pages writing in one page you can see pictures... I saw other people complained about it and still the store keeps this listing up going.
So we returned the defective one and again!!! Got the same book I’m super upset!! Do not waste time and money!

I was very disappointed in this paperback version. To say it was Illustrated by NC Wyeth is laughable because all the illustrations are in black and white, and not even the full page--you can hardly make out what they are supposed to represent!! Wyeth's originals were legendary!!! The only color is on the covers. The text is also small and not even a nice font. I was giving it to my grandson to encourage his reading. Definitely a disappointment!!

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.

Defoe's book is one of the first English novels and a prime example of Restoration literature because, hey, nothing reinvigorates a nation like a spicy tale of shipwreck and pirates. Loosely based on a true story, "Robinson Crusoe" is about a young sailor-trader-vagrant who runs away from home and his father's urgings to pursue law. His little sailing adventure quickly goes awry, and before long, visions of "Castaway" will dance in your head.
The bulk of the story takes place on the island where he's isolated for years, and years, and years, and without television or a good book. As a result, Defoe saturates this novel with description, preening into the tiniest details of daily shipwreck life. His focus on the mundane is wonderful - for the first 3 days of island captivity - but quickly bores after that. The true adventure lies in Crusoe's bold character rather than island logistics and could be further explored with the events that sandwiched his solitude.
Without a doubt though, this is a classic that leaves much to be digested. Crusoe is a timeless character, the aimless youth of yesterday, today, and tomorrow who stands ready to conquer the world but who's not quite sure how to go about it. It's no wonder why the emerging British middle class gobbled it up or why it continues to cater to the dreamers who feel an odd kinship to the bold Crusoe. For me though, this book is not a personal favorite; the action flows like molasses and the critical payoff is, in my estimate, not worth the 275 page investment. I'm also not fond of the prose, most of which comes off in Crusoe's proud, definitive bursts of declarative sentences.
In an edition note, I bought the Bantam Classic which is fine enough for a leisure read. If you're aiming at serious study or otherwise going for the authentic Defoe experience however, be forewarned that this version contains chapter titles not published with the original work. Buy another edition if you don't want spoilers.

In the literary world it is perhaps blasphemy to say a bad word against Daniel Defoe's most acclaimed novel. So here goes. The fact that the book was originally titled The Life And Strange Surprising Adventures Of Robinson Crusoe illustrates the major flaw in Defoe's literary form. Put simply, this would be a far more interesting and gripping story were it not so superfluously lengthy. The author makes a habit of repeating himself, especially when it comes to the act of dispatching kittens, which seems to be more of an obsession here than octogenarian ladies are to MatronsApron. It is difficult, you may think, to keep the subject matter fresh when describing the daily tribulations of a fellow stranded on an island for thirty years, without occasionally repeating yourself. True, but perhaps a straightforward solution to this diminutive quandary would be to simply truncate the duration of the story. There are some wonderfully intriguing and suspenseful moments, and some juicy action to boot, but sadly these are gratuitously diluted by lengthy descriptions of the unremarkable everyday goings on in Crusoe's life, and rather than serving to build up the suspense, they merely obstruct the reader's relationship with the more exciting parts of the story.
However, those with more patience than my ignorant self will find in Robinson Crusoe a delightful tale, which as well as being a fictional documentary of the most unusual thirty years of Mr. Crusoe's life, also has time to ponder upon philosophical and theological ideas, in a style that makes the reader feel as if they are involved in the conflicts between the functionalist and cynical thoughts going on in Crusoe's mind. It may not be a gripping white-knuckle adventure, being rather more leisurely and acquiescent, but it is still rather easy to see why Robinson Crusoe is regarded by some as one of the greatest novels of all time.

In the literary world it is perhaps blasphemy to say a bad word against Daniel Defoe's most acclaimed novel. So here goes. The fact that the book was originally titled The Life And Strange Surprising Adventures Of Robinson Crusoe illustrates the major flaw in Defoe's literary form. Put simply, this would be a far more interesting and gripping story were it not so superfluously lengthy. The author makes a habit of repeating himself, especially when it comes to the act of dispatching kittens, which seems to be more of an obsession here than octogenarian ladies are to MatronsApron. It is difficult, you may think, to keep the subject matter fresh when describing the daily tribulations of a fellow stranded on an island for thirty years, without occasionally repeating yourself. True, but perhaps a straightforward solution to this diminutive quandary would be to simply truncate the duration of the story. There are some wonderfully intriguing and suspenseful moments, and some juicy action to boot, but sadly these are gratuitously diluted by lengthy descriptions of the unremarkable everyday goings on in Crusoe's life, and rather than serving to build up the suspense, they merely obstruct the reader's relationship with the more exciting parts of the story.
However, those with more patience than my ignorant self will find in Robinson Crusoe a delightful tale, which as well as being a fictional documentary of the most unusual thirty years of Mr. Crusoe's life, also has time to ponder upon philosophical and theological ideas, in a style that makes the reader feel as if they are involved in the conflicts between the functionalist and cynical thoughts going on in Crusoe's mind. It may not be a gripping white-knuckle adventure, being rather more leisurely and acquiescent, but it is still rather easy to see why Robinson Crusoe is regarded by some as one of the greatest novels of all time.

In the literary world it is perhaps blasphemy to say a bad word against Daniel Defoe's most acclaimed novel. So here goes. The fact that the book was originally titled The Life And Strange Surprising Adventures Of Robinson Crusoe illustrates the major flaw in Defoe's literary form. Put simply, this would be a far more interesting and gripping story were it not so superfluously lengthy. The author makes a habit of repeating himself, especially when it comes to the act of dispatching kittens, which seems to be more of an obsession here than octogenarian ladies are to MatronsApron. It is difficult, you may think, to keep the subject matter fresh when describing the daily tribulations of a fellow stranded on an island for thirty years, without occasionally repeating yourself. True, but perhaps a straightforward solution to this diminutive quandary would be to simply truncate the duration of the story. There are some wonderfully intriguing and suspenseful moments, and some juicy action to boot, but sadly these are gratuitously diluted by lengthy descriptions of the unremarkable everyday goings on in Crusoe's life, and rather than serving to build up the suspense, they merely obstruct the reader's relationship with the more exciting parts of the story.
However, those with more patience than my ignorant self will find in Robinson Crusoe a delightful tale, which as well as being a fictional documentary of the most unusual thirty years of Mr. Crusoe's life, also has time to ponder upon philosophical and theological ideas, in a style that makes the reader feel as if they are involved in the conflicts between the functionalist and cynical thoughts going on in Crusoe's mind. It may not be a gripping white-knuckle adventure, being rather more leisurely and acquiescent, but it is still rather easy to see why Robinson Crusoe is regarded by some as one of the greatest novels of all time.

In the literary world it is perhaps blasphemy to say a bad word against Daniel Defoe's most acclaimed novel. So here goes. The fact that the book was originally titled The Life And Strange Surprising Adventures Of Robinson Crusoe illustrates the major flaw in Defoe's literary form. Put simply, this would be a far more interesting and gripping story were it not so superfluously lengthy. The author makes a habit of repeating himself, especially when it comes to the act of dispatching kittens, which seems to be more of an obsession here than octogenarian ladies are to MatronsApron. It is difficult, you may think, to keep the subject matter fresh when describing the daily tribulations of a fellow stranded on an island for thirty years, without occasionally repeating yourself. True, but perhaps a straightforward solution to this diminutive quandary would be to simply truncate the duration of the story. There are some wonderfully intriguing and suspenseful moments, and some juicy action to boot, but sadly these are gratuitously diluted by lengthy descriptions of the unremarkable everyday goings on in Crusoe's life, and rather than serving to build up the suspense, they merely obstruct the reader's relationship with the more exciting parts of the story.
However, those with more patience than my ignorant self will find in Robinson Crusoe a delightful tale, which as well as being a fictional documentary of the most unusual thirty years of Mr. Crusoe's life, also has time to ponder upon philosophical and theological ideas, in a style that makes the reader feel as if they are involved in the conflicts between the functionalist and cynical thoughts going on in Crusoe's mind. It may not be a gripping white-knuckle adventure, being rather more leisurely and acquiescent, but it is still rather easy to see why Robinson Crusoe is regarded by some as one of the greatest novels of all time.

In the literary world it is perhaps blasphemy to say a bad word against Daniel Defoe's most acclaimed novel. So here goes. The fact that the book was originally titled The Life And Strange Surprising Adventures Of Robinson Crusoe illustrates the major flaw in Defoe's literary form. Put simply, this would be a far more interesting and gripping story were it not so superfluously lengthy. The author makes a habit of repeating himself, especially when it comes to the act of dispatching kittens, which seems to be more of an obsession here than octogenarian ladies are to MatronsApron. It is difficult, you may think, to keep the subject matter fresh when describing the daily tribulations of a fellow stranded on an island for thirty years, without occasionally repeating yourself. True, but perhaps a straightforward solution to this diminutive quandary would be to simply truncate the duration of the story. There are some wonderfully intriguing and suspenseful moments, and some juicy action to boot, but sadly these are gratuitously diluted by lengthy descriptions of the unremarkable everyday goings on in Crusoe's life, and rather than serving to build up the suspense, they merely obstruct the reader's relationship with the more exciting parts of the story.
However, those with more patience than my ignorant self will find in Robinson Crusoe a delightful tale, which as well as being a fictional documentary of the most unusual thirty years of Mr. Crusoe's life, also has time to ponder upon philosophical and theological ideas, in a style that makes the reader feel as if they are involved in the conflicts between the functionalist and cynical thoughts going on in Crusoe's mind. It may not be a gripping white-knuckle adventure, being rather more leisurely and acquiescent, but it is still rather easy to see why Robinson Crusoe is regarded by some as one of the greatest novels of all time.

In the literary world it is perhaps blasphemy to say a bad word against Daniel Defoe's most acclaimed novel. So here goes. The fact that the book was originally titled The Life And Strange Surprising Adventures Of Robinson Crusoe illustrates the major flaw in Defoe's literary form. Put simply, this would be a far more interesting and gripping story were it not so superfluously lengthy. The author makes a habit of repeating himself, especially when it comes to the act of dispatching kittens, which seems to be more of an obsession here than octogenarian ladies are to MatronsApron. It is difficult, you may think, to keep the subject matter fresh when describing the daily tribulations of a fellow stranded on an island for thirty years, without occasionally repeating yourself. True, but perhaps a straightforward solution to this diminutive quandary would be to simply truncate the duration of the story. There are some wonderfully intriguing and suspenseful moments, and some juicy action to boot, but sadly these are gratuitously diluted by lengthy descriptions of the unremarkable everyday goings on in Crusoe's life, and rather than serving to build up the suspense, they merely obstruct the reader's relationship with the more exciting parts of the story.
However, those with more patience than my ignorant self will find in Robinson Crusoe a delightful tale, which as well as being a fictional documentary of the most unusual thirty years of Mr. Crusoe's life, also has time to ponder upon philosophical and theological ideas, in a style that makes the reader feel as if they are involved in the conflicts between the functionalist and cynical thoughts going on in Crusoe's mind. It may not be a gripping white-knuckle adventure, being rather more leisurely and acquiescent, but it is still rather easy to see why Robinson Crusoe is regarded by some as one of the greatest novels of all time.

In the literary world it is perhaps blasphemy to say a bad word against Daniel Defoe's most acclaimed novel. So here goes. The fact that the book was originally titled The Life And Strange Surprising Adventures Of Robinson Crusoe illustrates the major flaw in Defoe's literary form. Put simply, this would be a far more interesting and gripping story were it not so superfluously lengthy. The author makes a habit of repeating himself, especially when it comes to the act of dispatching kittens, which seems to be more of an obsession here than octogenarian ladies are to MatronsApron. It is difficult, you may think, to keep the subject matter fresh when describing the daily tribulations of a fellow stranded on an island for thirty years, without occasionally repeating yourself. True, but perhaps a straightforward solution to this diminutive quandary would be to simply truncate the duration of the story. There are some wonderfully intriguing and suspenseful moments, and some juicy action to boot, but sadly these are gratuitously diluted by lengthy descriptions of the unremarkable everyday goings on in Crusoe's life, and rather than serving to build up the suspense, they merely obstruct the reader's relationship with the more exciting parts of the story.
However, those with more patience than my ignorant self will find in Robinson Crusoe a delightful tale, which as well as being a fictional documentary of the most unusual thirty years of Mr. Crusoe's life, also has time to ponder upon philosophical and theological ideas, in a style that makes the reader feel as if they are involved in the conflicts between the functionalist and cynical thoughts going on in Crusoe's mind. It may not be a gripping white-knuckle adventure, being rather more leisurely and acquiescent, but it is still rather easy to see why Robinson Crusoe is regarded by some as one of the greatest novels of all time.

In the literary world it is perhaps blasphemy to say a bad word against Daniel Defoe's most acclaimed novel. So here goes. The fact that the book was originally titled The Life And Strange Surprising Adventures Of Robinson Crusoe illustrates the major flaw in Defoe's literary form. Put simply, this would be a far more interesting and gripping story were it not so superfluously lengthy. The author makes a habit of repeating himself, especially when it comes to the act of dispatching kittens, which seems to be more of an obsession here than octogenarian ladies are to MatronsApron. It is difficult, you may think, to keep the subject matter fresh when describing the daily tribulations of a fellow stranded on an island for thirty years, without occasionally repeating yourself. True, but perhaps a straightforward solution to this diminutive quandary would be to simply truncate the duration of the story. There are some wonderfully intriguing and suspenseful moments, and some juicy action to boot, but sadly these are gratuitously diluted by lengthy descriptions of the unremarkable everyday goings on in Crusoe's life, and rather than serving to build up the suspense, they merely obstruct the reader's relationship with the more exciting parts of the story.
However, those with more patience than my ignorant self will find in Robinson Crusoe a delightful tale, which as well as being a fictional documentary of the most unusual thirty years of Mr. Crusoe's life, also has time to ponder upon philosophical and theological ideas, in a style that makes the reader feel as if they are involved in the conflicts between the functionalist and cynical thoughts going on in Crusoe's mind. It may not be a gripping white-knuckle adventure, being rather more leisurely and acquiescent, but it is still rather easy to see why Robinson Crusoe is regarded by some as one of the greatest novels of all time.

In the literary world it is perhaps blasphemy to say a bad word against Daniel Defoe's most acclaimed novel. So here goes. The fact that the book was originally titled The Life And Strange Surprising Adventures Of Robinson Crusoe illustrates the major flaw in Defoe's literary form. Put simply, this would be a far more interesting and gripping story were it not so superfluously lengthy. The author makes a habit of repeating himself, especially when it comes to the act of dispatching kittens, which seems to be more of an obsession here than octogenarian ladies are to MatronsApron. It is difficult, you may think, to keep the subject matter fresh when describing the daily tribulations of a fellow stranded on an island for thirty years, without occasionally repeating yourself. True, but perhaps a straightforward solution to this diminutive quandary would be to simply truncate the duration of the story. There are some wonderfully intriguing and suspenseful moments, and some juicy action to boot, but sadly these are gratuitously diluted by lengthy descriptions of the unremarkable everyday goings on in Crusoe's life, and rather than serving to build up the suspense, they merely obstruct the reader's relationship with the more exciting parts of the story.
However, those with more patience than my ignorant self will find in Robinson Crusoe a delightful tale, which as well as being a fictional documentary of the most unusual thirty years of Mr. Crusoe's life, also has time to ponder upon philosophical and theological ideas, in a style that makes the reader feel as if they are involved in the conflicts between the functionalist and cynical thoughts going on in Crusoe's mind. It may not be a gripping white-knuckle adventure, being rather more leisurely and acquiescent, but it is still rather easy to see why Robinson Crusoe is regarded by some as one of the greatest novels of all time.

In the literary world it is perhaps blasphemy to say a bad word against Daniel Defoe's most acclaimed novel. So here goes. The fact that the book was originally titled The Life And Strange Surprising Adventures Of Robinson Crusoe illustrates the major flaw in Defoe's literary form. Put simply, this would be a far more interesting and gripping story were it not so superfluously lengthy. The author makes a habit of repeating himself, especially when it comes to the act of dispatching kittens, which seems to be more of an obsession here than octogenarian ladies are to MatronsApron. It is difficult, you may think, to keep the subject matter fresh when describing the daily tribulations of a fellow stranded on an island for thirty years, without occasionally repeating yourself. True, but perhaps a straightforward solution to this diminutive quandary would be to simply truncate the duration of the story. There are some wonderfully intriguing and suspenseful moments, and some juicy action to boot, but sadly these are gratuitously diluted by lengthy descriptions of the unremarkable everyday goings on in Crusoe's life, and rather than serving to build up the suspense, they merely obstruct the reader's relationship with the more exciting parts of the story.
However, those with more patience than my ignorant self will find in Robinson Crusoe a delightful tale, which as well as being a fictional documentary of the most unusual thirty years of Mr. Crusoe's life, also has time to ponder upon philosophical and theological ideas, in a style that makes the reader feel as if they are involved in the conflicts between the functionalist and cynical thoughts going on in Crusoe's mind. It may not be a gripping white-knuckle adventure, being rather more leisurely and acquiescent, but it is still rather easy to see why Robinson Crusoe is regarded by some as one of the greatest novels of all time.

Robinson Crusoe is one of those books that everyone seems to have already read. It seems to be the Tom Sawyer of the 1700s, or maybe I should say "he." I surprised myself by deciding to read a classic. Classic fiction doesn't seem to get along with me but I could understand this novel pretty easily. It was better written than a lot of the stuff being published today and I expected that but I didn't expect to be able to get passed that. I thought it would be a book like Charles Dickens or something similar where, in my opinion, it is bogged down by large words that completely destroy the plot. Anyway, this book was incredibley interesting and exciting. It was interesting to read one of the first novels about some guy being stranded on an island for a long period of time. Now we have probably thousands of books like this. I've read maybe ten or more like it and, although I want to, I can't say that Robinson Crusoe is my favorite of the bunch. It is up there though and is worth the read for the experience. And, if you need another reason, you can try to sound cool by saying you read a novel published in 1719.

Book no 15 of 1001 books you must read before you die. Everyone knows a little bit about this story: man survives on a deserted island after a shipwreck with his man Friday. However I was really surprised about how much detail is included in this very interesting little book, including Crusoe's adventures and experiences before he got to the deserted island, the prominent being his time as a slave in Algeria, and his escape to West Africa and becoming a sugar plantation owner in Brazil. The strength of the book is in his internal struggles with himself to survive; his assurance of the existence of a greater being as the reason for his survival from a shipwreck that killed all his fellow passengers, his ingenuity in how he survives, and his consideration of his right or not to attack some cannibals that arrive on the island with some prisoners who were about to become their victims. There is a marvellous description of body surfing, in what might well be the first such description in literature, in how he reaches the island following the shipwreck.

I must admit that I wasn't "wowed" by this book after I finished it. I'll even confess that I was mostly glad to be done with it. However, I've learned not to make hasty judgements about works, to spend time reflecting and researching in hopes of broadening my appreciation and understanding. My research has helped me resolve questions regarding why Defoe stressed some things to tedium while leaving out other more interesting details.
For example, as many have noted, he goes on and on and on about his projects on the island. The modern reader may tire of reading description after description about his cave and livestock and cooking methods. I thought to myself, "I know these people didn't have TV, but why would they want to know every cotton picking detail!" During my research, I learned that the reason for the detail was that Robinson was concerned about demonstrating mastery over his environment because that was a high priority during that time period. The most successful men learned how to work an environment to maximum efficiency. Men were concerned with conquering the land and establishing their dominance over others as well. This also explains why Robinson is more interested in learning how to live well on the island than in getting off the island.
Then there were other times when the book started to get more interesting, only to find Defoe skip off to a new topic. For example, I kept waiting and waiting for Friday to enter the storyline, and I assumed that he would be a great buddy of Robinson's. I was disappointed to learn that Friday didn't enter unless very late in the novel and that even when he did, Robinson wasn't very attached or concerned about him as a person. Again, after doing some research, I learned that their relationship reflected standard ideas at the time regarding masters and servants. There was an established hierarchy back then that regulated human relationships back then, whereas things are much more fluid and democratic these days. The concept of individual human rights did simply not exist in the form it does today.
So, although this work will never be my favorite, I have come to understand the people and values of that era better because of it. It's interesting to think about how so many basic ideas have changed since then.

Daniel Defoe's Robinson Crusoe never lived with a number of other people on his deserted island, competing for food and immunity icons every week, a television camera constantly in his face. Crusoe lived his solitary life not for the entertainment of others, but to suffer the plight of the lonely.
Ignoring the advice of his wise father, who begged him to choose an honest life close to home, Crusoe heads to sea and almost dies three times before ending up on his deserted isle. He chooses a life of a plantation owner, hiring slaves to do much of his work. He chooses to ignore the teachings of God, and puts himself at the top of his own kingdom. On a journey to collect slaves to increase productivity on his plantation, his ship wrecks on the rocks of an island. All are lost but him. He saves some provisions from his ship, but has to work the land on his own to survive nearly three decades in solitude. It isn't until one lucky Friday that Crusoe's isolation ends and his purgatory is over.
Defoe's book is really a treatise on humility, of suffering for the sake of one's soul and finding one's place in the world. I enjoyed it thoroughly. Crusoe, alone for 400 pages, keeps our attention to the end.
This is a children's edition, put out by Simon and Schuster's Aladdin Paperbacks. What makes this a children's addition is the foreword by Avi, a children's author, and the reading guide at the end worded for children.
But there's little, really, to distinguish this edition from others. As a book for children, Robinson Crusoe needs more than a few simplistic questions and a wispy introduction. There is much in this book from another age that parents and children will want to discuss: racism, slavery, misuse of your fellow man, cannibalism, butchery. Defoe's readers believed that cannibals inhabited many of the unchartered islands of the southern hemisphere, and the children of today, though not stupid, will need guidance to disavow them of this same incorrect thought and others. We should not censor this book -- it's as much historical document as it is literature -- but parents should be aware of what their children are reading, read it with them, and help them understand the world as it was (and wasn't) 300 years ago.
I would have given this book 5 stars (Robinson Crusoe alone deserves 5 stars) except for the mistakes on the back cover --Unabridged spelled "Unabrdiged" -- and in Avi's foreword -- foreword spelled "foreward," comma splices, and a reference to Crusoe's 24 years on the island (he was on the island 28 years!). Errors creep into most books, but in a children's book a publisher should take more care to ensure that the information is accurate.
This is a beautiful edition, marred by errors and lacking in supporting reading. Any other edition would suffice.

Note: Your "helpful" votes are appreciated. Thanks.

There are a lot of psychological and social theories about "Robinson Crusoe," but I just take it as a grand adventure. I loved all the details of how he survived after being shipwrecked on that island. Just remember that it was written in the seventeenth century so you have to get used to writing.

I have a warm place in my heart for Robinson Crusoe. Some fifty years ago in the second grade, my teacher read it to our class. Decades later, I told my wife about it, but she said that it was impossible. Robinson Crusoe is too difficult for a teacher to read to second graders.

Well, several years went by, and I was proved right. In a used bookstore, I bought a copy of "The Story of Robinson Crusoe in words of One Syllable," with "Colored Illustrations." The book was published in about 1900, and when my teacher read it to her class, the book was over fifty years old.

Since then I have collected paperback editions of "Robinson Crusoe" for their neat covers, and this one is really nice.

If you like shipwrecked-on-an-island stories, read Richard Laymon's "Island." It's a page-turner of a modern murder mystery.
Island

One of the best works of fiction I've read. I listened to this work unabridged and the narrator's tone and cadence were excellent. The narrative in the novel was very easy to follow as the majority of the book involves thoughts of Crusoe and very little dialogue. This is where its similarity with the movie "Cast Away" ends. It's an enduring story not for its Swiss Family Robinson detail but for its character development. Defoe does an excellent job of writing the impetuous, self-reproaching, humbling, ambitious and regretful thoughts of Crusoe.
The reflections and insights Crusoe contemplates while on and then later off the island provide an insightful template on how experience turns from foolish trial and error to wisdom. For example:
How frequently in the course of our lives, the evil which in itself we seek most to shun, and which when we are fallen into it is the most dreadful to us, is often times the very means or door of our deliverance by which alone we can be raised again from the affliction we are fallen into.
We are rarely cast into any condition of life so low or any misery so great but we may see something or other to be thankful for and may see others in worse circumstances than our own.
A few reviewers have criticized the book for its approbation of Robinson Crusoe's irresponsible behavior: he disobeyed his parents, pursued deplorable occupations (by today's standards), held racist attitudes and was cruel to animals. Yet it is just this behavior which is the strength of Crusoe as a character-he is the quintessential human---irresponsible, fallible, cowardly but not incorrigible.

I admit, I was truly impressed by this book. Of course, I�ve heard of the book for years, but for some reason always just assumed it would be dull. Well, dull it was not! It was really a beautiful story. Actually, it took a little while to become beautiful, as its first hefty chunk, with Crusoe leaving England, travelling around the world, trying to become rich, becoming an adventurer and then a slave, it was all a little slow�and perhaps fake. But once he made it to his deserted island, THIS BOOK BECAME A TRUE WINNER! His struggle to make it and survive and live a life of some quality and not go absolutely nuts from isolation and loneliness, it was a true gem, and for me, easy to relate to, despite the fact that defoe wrote it nearly 300 years ago. I really did not expect much from this book, not nearly as much as I got. I found the detail involved in his life on the island surprisingly welcome, and I found myself very caught up emotionally in crusoe�s struggle, and almost sick at the idea of him ALL ALONE on that island for decades.
Book�s weak points (in my opinion): I found almost everything on religion and morality in this book dull, and I skimmed over it. it frankly didn�t make sense to me how robinson crusoe, who was (or became) so enlightened in so many ways never could really see beyond the bounds of his petty little religion, as exemplified best (or worst) in his (...) conversion of Friday to christianity. From the beginning of the book I found defoe�s/crusoe�s soliloquies on religion suspect, and I wondered if defoe himself was just putting them in to satisfy his audience�s limited morality, to keep them off his trail, so to speak. Or perhaps he put them in just to allow the book to pass the censors� pens�or to keep himself out of jail�but that deep down he didn�t for a second buy all the religion crusoe supposedly espoused. Perhaps I�ll never know, but it�s just a feeling�

Robinson Crusoe is one of the most famous stories that we all know. What most don't know is that the story is about much more than simply being shipwrecked. It's about man's view on God and his place in the universe and his faith in himself. RC is a good book, though I think a bit laborious. I think that the movie "Castaway" with Tom Hanks has conditioned us to think of shipwreck stories lasting only a few years. This story lasts 26 years and is, as a result, very elaborate. I found it interesting to see how the author delved so deeply in the main character's religious beliefs and how they so strongly impacted his thoughts and actions. The book did have a bit too much of a feel good aspect to it in that things were either going very well or very poorly for the castaway, though I think that is somewhat symptomatic of the time it was written in. The work is perhaps more impressive when you consider that it was basically illegal to write this kind of story back then. It had to be written from the first person perspective, almost as an historical or autobiographical piece in order for Defoe to get it published. To that end, this was truly one of the first of the novels in the historical genre that was later followed by Sir Walter Scott who wrote Ivanhoe and Rob Roy, among others.

This is one of those books in which I feel that those who give it one star are right on the point, as well as those who feel that it is a masterpiece.
It is obvious that almost none of us knows what sort of interpretations will receive in the year 2560 a novel written in 1990 and held in our time, by both, popular opinion and literary circles, as a msterpiece. Maybe future readers will feel that is a bunch of rubish and that the nature of the character is not that of the hero but that of an obnoxious artist. The same way some people see today Robinson Crusoe as a repelent friend of slavery.
Judging the moral merits of a novel more than 300 years after it was written is sort of futile because we can not demand from the author to be attuned to the cultural beliefs, world views, literary technique and metal structure of today's reader. But all the critics of whether it is fun to read or not, are perfectly valid, since being entertained is powerful reason to pick up a book at any time in history.
Now, for me Robinson Crusoe is a great book because it can be read at several levels, that is for some people is just the story of a guy stranded in an island. For others is a parabole about the reediming power of the faith. Some see an existencialist struggle between the freedom of the individual versus the complex workings of society and not few percive a shameless propaganda for white supremacy and slavery, and will gladly have the book banned as compulsary reading in schools.
The fact is that by the end of the XVII Century, a writing of this characteristics was unknown, nobody wrote like that. Such spark of originality is recognized and deserves attention, because it creates a turning point in the history of literature. If for today's reader is fun to read or not, that is really another issue. As you will see for many of the store.com's reviewers the answer is quite extreme between the opposites of 1 and 5 stars. I invite you to know why.

There are a lot of psychological and social theories about "Robinson Crusoe," but I just take it as a grand adventure. I loved all the details of how he survived after being shipwrecked on that island. Just remember that it was written in the seventeenth century so you have to get used to writing.

I have a warm place in my heart for Robinson Crusoe. Some fifty years ago in the second grade, my teacher read it to our class. Decades later, I told my wife about it, but she said that it was impossible. Robinson Crusoe is too difficult for a teacher to read to second graders.

Well, several years went by, and I was proved right. In a used bookstore, I bought a copy of "The Story of Robinson Crusoe in words of One Syllable," with "Colored Illustrations." The book was published in about 1900, and when my teacher read it to her class, the book was over fifty years old.

Since then I have collected paperback editions of "Robinson Crusoe" for their neat covers, and this one is really nice.

If you like shipwrecked-on-an-island stories, read Richard Laymon's "Island." It's a page-turner of a modern murder mystery.
Island

Well, this book was a little better than Swiss Family Robinson. While it was only a little more plausible, I felt that it had a nicer writing style than the other classic. It had its moments, like when he first found Friday, or went sailing around the island. I also thought that it had far too much speaking and far too little action. Despite his having enough ammunition to stave off the entire U.S. Army for a month, he hardly ever fired a shot. He was rarely in much danger, and "god" continuously grants him things that make his survival a hundred times more easy. It often skips sections when he is in the most danger of starving, like when he says that he would not get any food from his crops until the third year of his imprisonment, and two pages later is eating corn he grew. This leaves the reader wondering what he ate the entire time that he wasn't eating corn.
Even with all of its failings, I found Robinson Crusoe an endearing character. I was rooting for him to survive the whole time. There were also stretches here and there where the book was hard to put down. Even so, I would recommend that you should think about what you want in a story before you buy this one. There are better books out there, like 20,000 Leagues Under the Sea.

In the literary world it is perhaps blasphemy to say a bad word against Daniel Defoe's most acclaimed novel. So here goes. The fact that the book was originally titled The Life And Strange Surprising Adventures Of Robinson Crusoe illustrates the major flaw in Defoe's literary form. Put simply, this would be a far more interesting and gripping story were it not so superfluously lengthy. The author makes a habit of repeating himself, especially when it comes to the act of dispatching kittens, which seems to be more of an obsession here than octogenarian ladies are to MatronsApron. It is difficult, you may think, to keep the subject matter fresh when describing the daily tribulations of a fellow stranded on an island for thirty years, without occasionally repeating yourself. True, but perhaps a straightforward solution to this diminutive quandary would be to simply truncate the duration of the story. There are some wonderfully intriguing and suspenseful moments, and some juicy action to boot, but sadly these are gratuitously diluted by lengthy descriptions of the unremarkable everyday goings on in Crusoe's life, and rather than serving to build up the suspense, they merely obstruct the reader's relationship with the more exciting parts of the story.
However, those with more patience than my ignorant self will find in Robinson Crusoe a delightful tale, which as well as being a fictional documentary of the most unusual thirty years of Mr. Crusoe's life, also has time to ponder upon philosophical and theological ideas, in a style that makes the reader feel as if they are involved in the conflicts between the functionalist and cynical thoughts going on in Crusoe's mind. It may not be a gripping white-knuckle adventure, being rather more leisurely and acquiescent, but it is still rather easy to see why Robinson Crusoe is regarded by some as one of the greatest novels of all time.

In the literary world it is perhaps blasphemy to say a bad word against Daniel Defoe's most acclaimed novel. So here goes. The fact that the book was originally titled The Life And Strange Surprising Adventures Of Robinson Crusoe illustrates the major flaw in Defoe's literary form. Put simply, this would be a far more interesting and gripping story were it not so superfluously lengthy. The author makes a habit of repeating himself, especially when it comes to the act of dispatching kittens, which seems to be more of an obsession here than octogenarian ladies are to MatronsApron. It is difficult, you may think, to keep the subject matter fresh when describing the daily tribulations of a fellow stranded on an island for thirty years, without occasionally repeating yourself. True, but perhaps a straightforward solution to this diminutive quandary would be to simply truncate the duration of the story. There are some wonderfully intriguing and suspenseful moments, and some juicy action to boot, but sadly these are gratuitously diluted by lengthy descriptions of the unremarkable everyday goings on in Crusoe's life, and rather than serving to build up the suspense, they merely obstruct the reader's relationship with the more exciting parts of the story.
However, those with more patience than my ignorant self will find in Robinson Crusoe a delightful tale, which as well as being a fictional documentary of the most unusual thirty years of Mr. Crusoe's life, also has time to ponder upon philosophical and theological ideas, in a style that makes the reader feel as if they are involved in the conflicts between the functionalist and cynical thoughts going on in Crusoe's mind. It may not be a gripping white-knuckle adventure, being rather more leisurely and acquiescent, but it is still rather easy to see why Robinson Crusoe is regarded by some as one of the greatest novels of all time.

In the literary world it is perhaps blasphemy to say a bad word against Daniel Defoe's most acclaimed novel. So here goes. The fact that the book was originally titled The Life And Strange Surprising Adventures Of Robinson Crusoe illustrates the major flaw in Defoe's literary form. Put simply, this would be a far more interesting and gripping story were it not so superfluously lengthy. The author makes a habit of repeating himself, especially when it comes to the act of dispatching kittens, which seems to be more of an obsession here than octogenarian ladies are to MatronsApron. It is difficult, you may think, to keep the subject matter fresh when describing the daily tribulations of a fellow stranded on an island for thirty years, without occasionally repeating yourself. True, but perhaps a straightforward solution to this diminutive quandary would be to simply truncate the duration of the story. There are some wonderfully intriguing and suspenseful moments, and some juicy action to boot, but sadly these are gratuitously diluted by lengthy descriptions of the unremarkable everyday goings on in Crusoe's life, and rather than serving to build up the suspense, they merely obstruct the reader's relationship with the more exciting parts of the story.
However, those with more patience than my ignorant self will find in Robinson Crusoe a delightful tale, which as well as being a fictional documentary of the most unusual thirty years of Mr. Crusoe's life, also has time to ponder upon philosophical and theological ideas, in a style that makes the reader feel as if they are involved in the conflicts between the functionalist and cynical thoughts going on in Crusoe's mind. It may not be a gripping white-knuckle adventure, being rather more leisurely and acquiescent, but it is still rather easy to see why Robinson Crusoe is regarded by some as one of the greatest novels of all time.

Robinson Crusoe is best taken at two levels, the literal adventure story of survival on an isolated island and as a metaphor for finding one's way through life. I recommend that everyone read the book who is willing to look at both of those levels. If you only want the adventure story, you may not be totally satisfied. The language, circumstances, and attitudes may put you off so that you would prefer to be reading a Western or Space-based adventure story with a more modern perspective.
Few books require anyone to rethink the availability and nature of the fundamentals of life: Water, food, shelter, clothing, and entertainment. Then having become solitary in our own minds as a reader, Defoe adds the extraordinary complication of providing a companion who is totally different from Crusoe. This provides the important opportunity to see Crusoe's civilized limitations compared to Friday's more natural ones. The comparisons will make for thought-provoking reading for those who are able to overcome the stalled thinking that the educated, civilized route is always the best.
One of the things that I specially liked about the book is the Crusoe is an ordinary person in many ways, making lots of mistakes, and having lots of setbacks. Put a modern Superhero (from either the comic books, adventure or spy novels, or the movies) into this situation, and it would all be solved in a few minutes with devices from the heel of one's shoe. Maybe I'm old fashioned, but I liked the trial-and-error explorations. They seemed just like everyday life, and made the book's many lessons come home to me in a more fundamental way.
Have a good solitary trip through this book!

After reading Glyn Williams' trenchant 'The Prize Of All The Oceans' I had an overwhelming desire to read this classic once again. I first read it when I was a mere 10 year old and it completely mesmerized me; I find that it still held the same power over me thirty years later. It is difficult to put this tale down once the title character becomes a castaway on the "island of despair" (as Crusoe refers to it) and he begins the battle against the odds to survive. Facing extreme tropical heat, torrential storms, a dreadful loneliness and the struggle to master some of the simplest of skills we take for granted Crusoe wages his one-man crusade for survival. Beginning his desolate existence steeped in woeful self-pity he slowly realizes through a series of trying circumstances, devotional reading of the Bible and finally relief from his isolated state that the experience proves to be one of reverie. In the process Crusoe becomes quite possibly the most inspirational figure to spring forth from the pages of literature.
Though it is annually listed by literature scholars as one of the 100 finest works of fiction, today primarily adolescents read Defoe's enduring tale as part of their required reading for school; very few others rarely bother with this nearly three century old tale. 'Robinson Crusoe' it seems is a classic awaiting a renaissance of rediscovery by adults who regularly read for either leisure or as a part of continuing education. While the novel's approach to morality may seem a bit old fashioned by today's contemporary standards, the character's awakening to wisdom, inner strength and faith will inspire any reader of any age. Crusoe's ability to steel himself against the onslaught of natural elements, his own self doubts and finally a band of savages who discover his "island empire" should win over even the most jaded of us. This Norton Critical Edition is the perfect package to gain a deep appreciation for this masterpiece of the English language. So do yourself a favor and pick up a copy of this book today and transport yourself back to your youth and also to a time long past. It's a journey you won't regret taking.

As a boy growing up in 17th Century England, all Robinson Crusoe wanted to do was be a sailor. His parents tried to dissuade him -- it was a dangerous occupation, and certainly a middle class child like him could find a calling much safer and more comfortable. Naturally, he didn't listen, and essentially ran away from home, finding opportunities to sail on a few ships and encountering a few dangers until he finally reached Brazil, bought a plantation, and looked forward to that comfortable life of prosperity his parents said would be his if he'd only use his head.
But Crusoe is one to push fate. He embarks on a ship bound for Africa to collect slaves, and during a storm in the Caribbean Sea, the ship is wrecked and the crew drowned except for Crusoe, who manages to swim to the shore of a deserted island. Unable to get back to civilization, he salvages as many goods as he can from the wrecked ship and resolves to survive as long as possible in this new, unwelcome habitat.
Crusoe's resourcefulness is astounding. He builds a sophisticated hut/tent/cave complex to live in, hunts goats and fowl, harvests fruit, and figures out how to grow barley, rice, and corn, bake bread, and make earthenware vessels. After living this way for nearly two peaceful decades, Crusoe discovers that savages from a distant island are using his island for their cannibal feasts. He manages to save the life of one of their potential victims, a savage he names Friday, who becomes his faithful servant. With Friday's help, Crusoe realizes he now has a chance to escape the island once and for all and get back to civilization, although his plans don't proceed quite as he envisioned them.
"Robinson Crusoe" is a neatly woven adventure yarn, but under the surface there are several themes. The most apparent is that the novel seems like a morality tale -- i.e., hard work and faith in God will see you through bad times; virtue is rewarded and arrogance is punished. Another theme is that although nature can be a cruel foe, man is better off learning to work in harmony with it than struggling against it. Most interesting to me, though, is that reading about Crusoe's self-education in the art of survival is like witnessing the anthropological process of how civilization developed from savagery.

I recommend this book not only for its historical importance as an early example of the English novel and it's interesting (albeit erroneous) theological opinions, but additionally because it is a very enjoyable (and quick) read. Defoe has a real knack for bringing Crusoe's extraordinary adventures to life. But Defoe's talent is not limited to pulp.
The book also contains a discussion of Man's relationship to God and Providence and the plentiful gifts provided by God to his "elect." Defoe never uses the word elect but, if he's not a full-fledged five pointer, there can be no question that his orientation leans in a Calvinist direction.
It should come as no surprise, then, that the book contains a good deal of not so subtle anti-Catholicism and arrogantly implies that the rich are elected to that position by God and will thereby go to heaven and, likewise, the poor and dispossessed are despised by God, hence their poverty. Evidently our Sola Scriptura friend missed the Beatitudes in his study of Scripture.
But a reader prepared to confront Defoe's theological wackiness will nevertheless enjoy Crusoe for the good yarn that it is. And a keen observer might recognize with a shudder Crusoe's/Defoe's unmerciful paternalism towards the "damned" and his near complete disregard for their dignity nearly 300 years later in our own political discourses. The more things change, the more they stay the same.

Written like a narrative biography, this popular Defoe tale has been abridged to appeal to younger reader. It is set in the mid-1600s in England, as young Robinson considers his future. His father warns him about the perils of sailing. Robinson, undeterred, finds his way to a ship leaving from London.

Various adventures ensue, including being captured as a slave by a wealthy Turk. When he breaks for his escape, he manages to board a ship with a kind captain who assists him.

The real adventure begins soon thereafter, eight years after he first left home. He is shipwrecked:

"Nothing can describe the panic I felt when I hit the water... I looked up and saw an island before me." That island becomes his home for many years. His only book is his Bible which he reads daily. He makes what he needs from items he finds of the island, and later, meets Friday, whom he saves from death.

The illustration by N. C. Wyeth are beautiful, and have been seen in many earlier editions and versions of "Robinson Crusoe."

Few books hold the charm and swagger that "Robinson Crusoe" does, and lesser still tell it so well. The abridgment retains the excitement, and hopefully, as your child or student grows older, they will want to read the original version.

I fully recommend "Robinson Crusoe," by Daniel Defoe.

Anthony Trendl
editor, HungarianBookstore.com

This review is based on a mid-century reprint of Heritage's edition of Robinson Crusoe.

Defoe's book was a hit when first published and this Heritage edition was a hit as well, reprinted several times over the couse of the 20th century.

This is a fun Heritage with a number of novel flourishes. Housed in a flat, blue slipcase, the book is bound in nubby cream cloth -- about as close to "rustic" as the Heritage Press can be. Blue emblem of Crusoe on the beach; silver details on the spine. Front and back pastedowns are an extravagant color decorative map of the island.

The original LEC E.A. Wilson drawings were re-worked by Wilson from the original plates so that Heritage could publish them in color for this edition. Over 35 four-color illustrations, and a fun four-color mock-heroic title page.

The complete, original Defoe text with modernized spelling and punctuation.

Book design by R.W. Ellis. Introduction by J.C. Hadden. 299 pp with a sewn binding.

A fabulous and absorbing book, very well executed by Defoe. I have read this work a small number of times, and my appreciation only grows. Some people have the gift to be able to create a believable storyline filled with (mostly) credible details; Defoe is one, Dumas is another.

The text is enhanced by the inclusion of numerous truisms and insights that are as valid today as the day they were written. It is a pleasure to imagine myself in the same position of Crusoe and how I would respond.

Often considered to be the first novel in English, "Robinson Crusoe" is also one of the most widely known stories in the world. Turning his back on his comfortable middle-class life and turning a deaf ear to the entreaties of his parents, Crusoe takes to the sea and an adventurous life that includes storms, slavery, and winning a fortune as a plantation owner before the fateful shipwreck that strands him on a remote island for the greatest portion of the book.

Adapting oneself to the conventions of eighteenth century writing--extremely verbose by today's standard--will be a barrier to many readers, perhaps an insurmountable one. Those who persevere will find that familiarity with the style will cause the difficulties to fade so the power of the story can shine through. His efforts to make a comfortable life for himself and the moral reflections he entertains in solitude are interesting, and there are many passages of high adventure.

This review is based on a mid-century reprint of Heritage's edition of Robinson Crusoe.

Defoe's book was a hit when first published and this Heritage edition was a hit as well, reprinted several times over the couse of the 20th century.

This is a fun Heritage with a number of novel flourishes. Housed in a flat, blue slipcase, the book is bound in nubby cream cloth -- about as close to "rustic" as the Heritage Press can be. Blue emblem of Crusoe on the beach; silver details on the spine. Front and back pastedowns are an extravagant color decorative map of the island.

The original LEC E.A. Wilson drawings were re-worked by Wilson from the original plates so that Heritage could publish them in color for this edition. Over 35 four-color illustrations, and a fun four-color mock-heroic title page.

The complete, original Defoe text with modernized spelling and punctuation.

Book design by R.W. Ellis. Introduction by J.C. Hadden. 299 pp with a sewn binding.

This review is based on a mid-century reprint of Heritage's edition of Robinson Crusoe.

Defoe's book was a hit when first published and this Heritage edition was a hit as well, reprinted several times over the couse of the 20th century.

This is a fun Heritage with a number of novel flourishes. Housed in a flat, blue slipcase, the book is bound in nubby cream cloth -- about as close to "rustic" as the Heritage Press can be. Blue emblem of Crusoe on the beach; silver details on the spine. Front and back pastedowns are an extravagant color decorative map of the island.

The original LEC E.A. Wilson drawings were re-worked by Wilson from the original plates so that Heritage could publish them in color for this edition. Over 35 four-color illustrations, and a fun four-color mock-heroic title page.

The complete, original Defoe text with modernized spelling and punctuation.

Book design by R.W. Ellis. Introduction by J.C. Hadden. 299 pp with a sewn binding.

This review is based on a mid-century reprint of Heritage's edition of Robinson Crusoe.

Defoe's book was a hit when first published and this Heritage edition was a hit as well, reprinted several times over the couse of the 20th century.

This is a fun Heritage with a number of novel flourishes. Housed in a flat, blue slipcase, the book is bound in nubby cream cloth -- about as close to "rustic" as the Heritage Press can be. Blue emblem of Crusoe on the beach; silver details on the spine. Front and back pastedowns are an extravagant color decorative map of the island.

The original LEC E.A. Wilson drawings were re-worked by Wilson from the original plates so that Heritage could publish them in color for this edition. Over 35 four-color illustrations, and a fun four-color mock-heroic title page.

The complete, original Defoe text with modernized spelling and punctuation.

Book design by R.W. Ellis. Introduction by J.C. Hadden. 299 pp with a sewn binding.

In the literary world it is perhaps blasphemy to say a bad word against Daniel Defoe's most acclaimed novel. So here goes. The fact that the book was originally titled The Life And Strange Surprising Adventures Of Robinson Crusoe illustrates the major flaw in Defoe's literary form. Put simply, this would be a far more interesting and gripping story were it not so superfluously lengthy. The author makes a habit of repeating himself, especially when it comes to the act of dispatching kittens, which seems to be more of an obsession here than octogenarian ladies are to MatronsApron. It is difficult, you may think, to keep the subject matter fresh when describing the daily tribulations of a fellow stranded on an island for thirty years, without occasionally repeating yourself. True, but perhaps a straightforward solution to this diminutive quandary would be to simply truncate the duration of the story. There are some wonderfully intriguing and suspenseful moments, and some juicy action to boot, but sadly these are gratuitously diluted by lengthy descriptions of the unremarkable everyday goings on in Crusoe's life, and rather than serving to build up the suspense, they merely obstruct the reader's relationship with the more exciting parts of the story.
However, those with more patience than my ignorant self will find in Robinson Crusoe a delightful tale, which as well as being a fictional documentary of the most unusual thirty years of Mr. Crusoe's life, also has time to ponder upon philosophical and theological ideas, in a style that makes the reader feel as if they are involved in the conflicts between the functionalist and cynical thoughts going on in Crusoe's mind. It may not be a gripping white-knuckle adventure, being rather more leisurely and acquiescent, but it is still rather easy to see why Robinson Crusoe is regarded by some as one of the greatest novels of all time.

The Farther Adventures of Robinson Crusoe
Liked reading this book as we have often watched TV series about the escapades of this man and his servant Friday.
So adventurous and fascinates me as to how he can survive and keep protected with no weapons to speak of. Loved the journey this book took me on.
All corners of the world and how they were able to live in the areas by bartering and how they protected themselves with the knowledge they gained from others.
I received this book from National Library Service for my BARD (Braille Audio Reading Device).

Daniel Defoe's 1719 novel, "Robinson Crusoe," written when Defoe was 59 years old, is a multifaceted work whose layers of significance can easily escape those who read it in their youth. The English precursor to the survival/adventure/shipwreck narrative, "Robinson Crusoe" details the career of an errant youth who discovers hope and faith through experimentation. Crusoe's exploits are also important to a developing early 18th century notion of the ideal industrious middle class citizen, as well as reaffirming the growth of British Imperialism.
As a boy in a household already fractured by rebellious sons, Crusoe lives aimlessly with his father and mother, always desiring to leave the confines of his home for the sea. Against the better wisdom of his father, who advises him to remain where he is and enjoy the fruits of an easy-going middle class life, Crusoe takes to the ocean. A series of ill-omened occurrences, including shipwrecks and enslavement lead Crusoe to a deserted island off the coast of South America, where he is forced to provide and fend for himself.
Though Crusoe's spiritual awakening has been much noted in reviews, one important facet of his Christian moralizing in the novel that is noteworthy is the way the novel problematizes Protestant-Catholic relations throughout the novel. The vast majority of Crusoe's early encounters are among Spanish and Portuguese colonists and traders. It is interesting how Crusoe measures the English against them, and how that comparison extends into Crusoe's evaluation of the various 'savages' he comes across in the novel.
Another great layer of significance in "Robinson Crusoe" concerns its attitudes toward English history and colonial ventures. Note the language of possession, authority, and control that colour Crusoe's descriptions of himself and the uninhabited island he must learn to live on. I find especially telling, in accordance with his religious views, how England's 18th century colonial competitors, the Spanish, Portuguese, Dutch, and French, are characterized by Crusoe.
I could also cite the often explicitly homoerotic undertones in the relationship between Crusoe and his Native American manservant, Friday, as a source of compelling interest in Defoe's novel. In the realm of the socio-economic, Crusoe's appropriation of utilitarianism in regards to raw materials, money, and even people is an important theme. For those who have read it a million times or never, Defoe's "Robinson Crusoe" is entertaining and edifying, always worth reading and rereading.

Besides being an admirable adventure story recounting the struggles of a single man braving the hostility of the elements, Daniel Defoe's "Robinson Crusoe" is an allegory of a striving capitalist. No other book stands so prominently as a product of the Puritan, post-Reformation environment, with its ideals of asceticism, self-denial and the accumulation of wealth. It has been also remarked that Crusoe is peculiarly oblivious to the craving for woman. The episode involving cannibalism (which can be read as an anagram of "capitalism") illustrates this, as Crusoe is menaced by the fear of being eaten. Moreover, the novel is invested with profoundly Christian symbolism, as the surname of the hero (Crusoe=crux=cross) attests. Note that Crusoe's "echo" in the narrative is Xury, the first letter of whose name (X) is patently Christian in connotation. Though a stirring and exciting tale of courage and survival, it is strongly underpinned by the Enlightenment ethic of man's domination of nature for the purposes of his own self-aggrandisment.

It has been a long time since I last enjoyed reading a "classic" as much as this. This novel is superbly put together and completely rewards its status as an all-time classic. At the same time it is the mother of all survival stories of any type - including the so-called "reality" TV shows aplenty (which are not reality at all but a twisted form of fiction) - and it is without a doubt still the best. Also this work is surprisingly modern in its style (despite of course its oldish language) and written in a documentary style very much in the way that a modern day journalist would probably do it. It gives the book excellent forward momentum. Last but not least I found this book really funny. I think that's probably because of Defoe's fantastic sense of self-criticism in the narrative . Impressive and worth reading for anyone who likes a good story.

First and foremost, the edition I read was not this exact one being reviewed. I read the Barnes and Noble published version, which of course is not for sale on the store. However it was the original unabridged text as I m almost positive most of the copies of this novel available are, so in essence I read the same book that you will buy, no matter what version. The only comment that I can make in regards to editions is that I find that many of the paper back versions are not quite as nice overall (I prefer Hardcover always, being a collector) and the best version on this site is the Everymans library, which publishes fantastic looking books, so long as a classic cloth binding with not jacketa appeals to you also.

Alas, though, the book. It's terrific. Without hinting at too much of the contents, since I hate, hate, hate spoilers, this book is essentially a fiction autobiography. I m sure we almost all know the basics of Robin's story by now, but, this being my first read, I found there to be so much more than expected.

What really stood out for me was how amazingly developed psychologically Crusoe is. He has all the same thoughts, emotions and instincts of a living person, and that makes for an extremely engaging and important character. It delves into far more than the simplicities of his day to day survival, even though it does cover much of this and all is simply fascinating. It also bounces around religion of the day and really, just a very complete and full description of life for the Explorers and Natives in that time in the Americas.

There is no question that this is an essential read and a true classic. I ve heard many remark it as the first novel written in the English language, and true or not, just being potentially the first novel in the English language gives it a little extra significance and makes it that much more meaningful.

Lets not forget the power of (AHEM, SPOILER!) the side characters and beautiful Friday. Him, his father....nuff said. Good stuff.

(SPOILER OVER)

A few gripes? I thought the beginning was good, but had me left curious for when "it" would happen and the end honestly dissapointed.

Its a strong history of the times, a powerful look into man and his inner workings and a wonderful and entertaining read. A true classic and a must.

Daniel Defoe's Robinson Crusoe is a wonderful read. I mainly downloaded this version so that I could read a chapter a night for my grandson who has an interest in pirates and ships and all that goes along with that. I had already read Robinson Crusoe when I was in my teens and wanted to share this with him. The illustrations will help his imagination to soar and carry him through this book. And I believe reading it to him in chapter form will also make him eager to hear each next chapter!

Don't think of it as just a classic that has to be read, but more of a wonderful adventure for mainly boys of all ages, but I have to tell you, I enjoyed reading it myself!

Man has had fascination with the idea of surviving the ordeal of island castaway for all of recorded history. Swiss Family Robinson, Lord Of The Flies, and Gilligan's Island are proof of that. All of us, it seems, imagine ourselves dealing with the deprivation and hardship of solo survival on a tropical isle. And we enjoy reading about others doing the same. Defoe's version of this oft-used plot is one of the first, and in a sense, defines the genre of the survival suspense novel.
The book was written in a different time when writing styles called for or at least tolerated verbosity. The result is a slow-moving tale that many of today's readers will find boring. Once past that, however, one can appreciate the richly detailed and historically enlightening story with strong characterization and important, timeless message.
Robinson Crusoe is a true literary classic, and as such deserves the attention of all serious literature buffs. --Christopher Bonn Jonnes, author of Wake Up Dead.

This book is not the easiest of books to read. It has grammar that demands it be followed precisely word for word. Then there is the fact that it takes about 50 pages before the action truly begins. And, on top of all that, once the plot actually begins, some chapters make for very dull reading...
But it is still an exciting, adventure filled book. Robinson Crusoe defies his family and becomes a sailor on the high seas. Whether just having natural bad luck, or a curse put on him for disobeying his family, he meets with disaster time and again. This will eventually culminate into his being a lone survivor, of a ship wreck, trapped on an island.
Although, as I have written, it takes awhile for the novel to get into its main plot and that when Crusoe is on the island parts of the plot can be dull, all this information adds to our knowledge of Crusoe--of his growing self-sufficientness and confidence, and ability to grow and make items, supplies, and food, and especially of his transformation from woe-is-me sailor to hardy islander.
This book does have its faults--the prevalent racism being the main one. For example, Friday is portrayed as an all-worshiping servant of Crusoe. Also, everyone Crusoe encounters is portrayed as a weakling whose problems can only be solved by Crusoe alone. However, although these attitudes of racism and superiority can't be ignored by the reader, one must remember that this book was written during a time period when these attitudes were considered a normal part of life.
This book is highly recommanded to anyone who loves tales of adventures of high seas.

The book `Robinson Crusoe' is one of my all time favorite books. I was turned onto classics recently when I started to look into the classics section of the books store. I wanted to know what all the hype was about books and stories such as this one. Being a classic tends to give way to the idea that the book has a lot to offer, and that is no different for `Robinson Crusoe', a remarkable story of remarkable circumstances that present themselves to the main character. Although the story, often dubbed `the story of a man stranded on an island for 26 years', sounds dull and uneventful, nothing could be further from the truth. Those who've never read it refer to it as that, a story of a man stranded on an island for 26 years. Those of us who have read it understand that it's much more than that. This may be the best story ever composed. The swift current of the novel is quick-paced and could include nothing more to keep a reader entertained.
Regarding the moral implications such as those of slavery, the novel heavily disfavors the ideas we have in society today by condoning and thinking only once about slavery. I believe this further treats us in a piece of literature that also acts as a diary of times. What better way to tell a story, than to simply tell the truth? And in those times the truth was that slavery was a part of society and nothing more shameful than modern day coffee drinking. It was a business and although unfavorable today, it was the truth of the times. I have the same feeling about the references to religion. Those times were different and act today as a time capsule for readers to understand what things may have been like only 300 years ago.
Literally, the novel uses (by modern standards) odd English and can be difficult for novice readers. However, even for a novice reader the novel can be a challenge to learn about how the writers of our past wrote novels. As the reader proceeds through the story, more is understood and eventually the story flows as freely as a morning newspaper. I would encourage users to read this knowing that it is almost three hundred years old, and that the slang is thick and different from ours.
The storytelling is nothing short of a masterpiece. The story itself touches down on many aspects of the human condition; hatred, happiness, courage, perseverance, loyalty, love, treachery and friendship. We can all relate at one point or another with Robinson Crusoe.
Regarded as possibly the first English novel ever, this tells the story of a man who's found himself alone and shipwrecked on a deserted island; the many years he spends making a new home for himself, the many times he tries to escape his paradise dungeon and the thick courage it took to outlast the immeasurable feat of solitude. This is the story of a man who finds one footprint on a deserted island.

In the literary world it is perhaps blasphemy to say a bad word against Daniel Defoe's most acclaimed novel. So here goes. The fact that the book was originally titled The Life And Strange Surprising Adventures Of Robinson Crusoe illustrates the major flaw in Defoe's literary form. Put simply, this would be a far more interesting and gripping story were it not so superfluously lengthy. The author makes a habit of repeating himself, especially when it comes to the act of dispatching kittens, which seems to be more of an obsession here than octogenarian ladies are to MatronsApron. It is difficult, you may think, to keep the subject matter fresh when describing the daily tribulations of a fellow stranded on an island for thirty years, without occasionally repeating yourself. True, but perhaps a straightforward solution to this diminutive quandary would be to simply truncate the duration of the story. There are some wonderfully intriguing and suspenseful moments, and some juicy action to boot, but sadly these are gratuitously diluted by lengthy descriptions of the unremarkable everyday goings on in Crusoe's life, and rather than serving to build up the suspense, they merely obstruct the reader's relationship with the more exciting parts of the story.
However, those with more patience than my ignorant self will find in Robinson Crusoe a delightful tale, which as well as being a fictional documentary of the most unusual thirty years of Mr. Crusoe's life, also has time to ponder upon philosophical and theological ideas, in a style that makes the reader feel as if they are involved in the conflicts between the functionalist and cynical thoughts going on in Crusoe's mind. It may not be a gripping white-knuckle adventure, being rather more leisurely and acquiescent, but it is still rather easy to see why Robinson Crusoe is regarded by some as one of the greatest novels of all time.

My dad gave my twelve-year-old nephew a copy of Robinson Crusoe and told him that he ought to read it. My nephew is a reluctant reader and never got very far in the book. After reading it this week, I can see why.

Robinson Crusoe was a tough read for me. You know the story, of course. Crusoe, against his parents' wishes, heads out to the sea and ends up a slave. He escapes from slavery only to later return to the sea and become shipwrecked on an island. How he manages to survive is a fun read.

And he does survive, despite a lack of water and food and companionship, despite hurricanes, despite cannibals. The daunting vocabulary and a complex sentence structure make this a challenging read for a child.

First off, i should be honest in saying I have NOT yet read "Robinson Crusoe" by Daniel Defoe, so this review can't possible be on the story itself. What it IS a review of is two different editons of the text in question.

I recently picked up two different editions of Robinson Crusoe at a local library, one being this edition here, the Barnes & Noble Books (which is hardcover), and the other being A Bantam Classic release (which is a mass market paperback) - both of which you can buy from the store.

I was highly confused by these editions because I always thought that a mass market paperback would have more pages in it than its hardcover equivalent due to the fact the publisher has/had to reduce the font and margin sizes down to fit onto a smaller page size - reduce the page size usually means more pages. However, while I compared the two, the mass market Bantam Classic edition has 32 chapters over 275 pages where as the hardcover Barnes & Noble edtion has 40 chapters over 397 pages. Why such a big difference in both the number of chapters and pages?

Also, I compared the chapters in each edition and the B&N would extend the B.C. chapters longer and start a new chapter somewhere in the next one. And both editons don't even end the same place. There's so much more at the end of the B&N edition than the B.C. one. Is the B&N and "unabridged" edition thereas the B.C. is an "abridged"? Is anyone able to help me out with this?

In the literary world it is perhaps blasphemy to say a bad word against Daniel Defoe's most acclaimed novel. So here goes. The fact that the book was originally titled The Life And Strange Surprising Adventures Of Robinson Crusoe illustrates the major flaw in Defoe's literary form. Put simply, this would be a far more interesting and gripping story were it not so superfluously lengthy. The author makes a habit of repeating himself, especially when it comes to the act of dispatching kittens, which seems to be more of an obsession here than octogenarian ladies are to MatronsApron. It is difficult, you may think, to keep the subject matter fresh when describing the daily tribulations of a fellow stranded on an island for thirty years, without occasionally repeating yourself. True, but perhaps a straightforward solution to this diminutive quandary would be to simply truncate the duration of the story. There are some wonderfully intriguing and suspenseful moments, and some juicy action to boot, but sadly these are gratuitously diluted by lengthy descriptions of the unremarkable everyday goings on in Crusoe's life, and rather than serving to build up the suspense, they merely obstruct the reader's relationship with the more exciting parts of the story.
However, those with more patience than my ignorant self will find in Robinson Crusoe a delightful tale, which as well as being a fictional documentary of the most unusual thirty years of Mr. Crusoe's life, also has time to ponder upon philosophical and theological ideas, in a style that makes the reader feel as if they are involved in the conflicts between the functionalist and cynical thoughts going on in Crusoe's mind. It may not be a gripping white-knuckle adventure, being rather more leisurely and acquiescent, but it is still rather easy to see why Robinson Crusoe is regarded by some as one of the greatest novels of all time.

My daughter and I have been reading (and re-reading!) the DK Classics (of which "Robinson Crusoe" is part of) for several years, since she was 5. These books are very colorful, with lots of illustrations and photos of genuine artifacts, maps, and people from the era in which the story is set. Side panel text gives background information about the author, pictures and story. These "additions" (which do not detract from, but only enhance the story) help the young reader (and the adult too!) put the story into context. It is like getting both a classic and a pictorial history book rolled into one! The text is easy to read. My daughter is now 9, and reading the books on her own. Not only has she developed an appreciation for classic literature, but for history as well. These are great books for parents to read with their children. I highly recommend them!

Robinson Crusoe was one of my childhood favorites, and rereading it as an adult was just as enjoyable as ever. As many have already pointed out, it is definitely a book for the detail-oriented reader--not for those looking for lots of fast-paced adventure. Nevertheless, there is plenty of adventure in the book. I did find the book somewhat uneven, with some parts having a repetitive bent, others flowing smoothly, and others being so rapidly told that you almost lose track of what's happening. All that said, I love the book for its careful description of how he makes out on the deserted island, and all of the ingenious ways in which he builds things, makes implements for farming and cooking, guards his home(s), etc. Its almost disappointing when he leaves the island halfway through the book, and there is a lull in the adventure. But it picks right up again and continues with more of his adventures around the world, including a brief return to his island. Perhaps the book is unrealistic in parts, but that is what makes it so fun for imagining. It is also fascinating to see his character develop, as he faces moral and religious dilemmas, and matures as he ages. Altogether, this book is very enjoyable, but you have to be a patient and detail-oriented reader to appreciate it.

I felt compelled to read this book and am glad that I did even though it was not spellbinding. DeFoe's ability to conjure up the day to day survival struggle in such great detail was the epitome of creative inspiration. To understand Robinson Crusoe's journey and motivation is to appreciate one's own and even on a broader scale, to understand human nature. Personally, the lesson it reinforced in me is that self-esteem stems from overcoming obstacles and attaining wisdom as a result. And his being grateful to Providence is a celebration of divinely or spiritually inspired action that cannot come from without but has to come from within.

I have been watching Lost on ABC since it started. (What a great show!) - Anyhow, i decided to read the book that likely has a hand in the inspiration of the plot. Robinson Crusoe is a great story, despite being written so long ago. It is no wonder it has stood the test of time. Crusoe is marooned after a shipwreck, and we get to follow his adventures -from the early stockpiling and salvaging of flotsam, to the later building of a fort to ward of cannibals. What many people may not be aware of is that Robinson Crusoe was on the island for 28 years -so it wasn't exactly a holiday! He raises crops, and domesticates and trains animals. It isn't for years until he finds a footprint on the beach, and befriends his man Friday and can talk to someone. (Who doesn't speak English)

Anyhow, who likes Lost, or adventure stories in general, cannot pass up this masterpiece. If I were stranded on a desert island, it is the book I would bring with me.

Relic113

Even though it was written almost 300 years ago, it's still a very releveant and worthwhile read. Everyone knows the basic story of Robinson Crusoe - man stranded on deserted tropical island for over 20 years befriended by "his man Friday". But there is much more to the story that few are aware of. For instance - Crusoe was not a sailor, but rather a plantation owner on a mission to procure slaves, Crusoe's stranding on the island was not his first time cut off from civilization, and there's much much more.

Also, it appears there are sentiments expressed in this book that I would not have expected to find in a 300 year old book. Particularly Crusoe's take on the Spaniards and their genocidal behavior in the new world. When I read Crusoe's thoughts on the matter, I thought I was hearing the thoughts of a modern day left wing professor.

There is a great deal of detail devoted to how Crusoe learns to cope and thrive on the island. There's so much detail it tends to bog the story down. However, it's there because that is what Dafoe's audience demanded. (Prior to Crusoe's publication, there was true story about a stranded sailor that was widely read but disparaged for its lack of detail.) Don't let the detail discourage you. The last chapters are worth all the effort it takes to get to them.

I didn't know what to expect when I picked up this title at the library. How much could someone write about being alone on an island? I mean, there couldn't be too much in the way of dialogue, right?
Crusoe is a great man, even if he doesn't realize it. Paranoid and imperfect, with the need to travel abroad, he winds up by himself, on a deserted island, with precious little resources.
Crusoe must figure out how to get by - and thrive. With no hope of rescue, he must learn how to change his priorities, and his outlook on life. And when faced with new challenges, he must learn how to adapt.
I thoroughly enjoyed this novel, not only for the good story, but also for the life lessons learned vicariously through Robinson. We could all use 25 years on an island once in a while.

Robinson Crusoe is an enjoyable story. I thought it was a nice plot. Also, Daniel Defoe spoke of survival skills and how Robinson applied the techniques as means necessary for his survival. There was no analyzation of Robinson at least on psychological levels. I can see that he examined himself religiously. That really slowed the book down and became boring in the process. Also, the plot was not strong as the author had too many focuses: the home, the Brazils, the Shipwreck, the wolves incident, the aftermath, etc.. I prefer the introduction and the solitude on an island for the story. The wolves incident completely threw the book out of track. I will call it a nice classic story with a lot of flaws in its novel. It also skims a lot in the novel, not providing a lot of concrete details. When years went by, it didn't really focus on the years, but what happened that seems to happen the same too often. I felt there should be some kind of change annually. One thing I must point out is: How did Robinson took care of himself in regards to the excretion system? How did he go on to take care of the excretion matter?
P.S. I recently visited the new spy museum in Washington D.C.. By coincidence, I was also reading Robinson Crusoe at the same time. I happen to notice the fact that Daniel Defoe was a British spy and was credited being the first to set up the spy espionage network in all of Britain.

This review is based on a mid-century reprint of Heritage's edition of Robinson Crusoe.

Defoe's book was a hit when first published and this Heritage edition was a hit as well, reprinted several times over the couse of the 20th century.

This is a fun Heritage with a number of novel flourishes. Housed in a flat, blue slipcase, the book is bound in nubby cream cloth -- about as close to "rustic" as the Heritage Press can be. Blue emblem of Crusoe on the beach; silver details on the spine. Front and back pastedowns are an extravagant color decorative map of the island.

The original LEC E.A. Wilson drawings were re-worked by Wilson from the original plates so that Heritage could publish them in color for this edition. Over 35 four-color illustrations, and a fun four-color mock-heroic title page.

The complete, original Defoe text with modernized spelling and punctuation.

Book design by R.W. Ellis. Introduction by J.C. Hadden. 299 pp with a sewn binding.

This is one of my favorite books. I like the way the story begins like the surf. Successive waves lap the pages as the story is told and then retold. I like the prominence of Providence. I like the admonition of virtue. I like the layers of irony found in a story whose fictional protagonist warns the reader of the vices which landed him in the calamitous situations of the story that interested the reader enough to read the story in the first place. Perhaps someday keeping the commandments will be as compelling a story as breaking them is.

It is nice that the rest of the Crusoe "trilogy" is getting a little easier to find... I haven't read the third, pseudopigraphical one yet.
2. The Farther Adventures Of Robinson Crusoe: Being The Second And Last Part Of His Life, And Of The Strange, Surprising Account Of His Travels Round Three Parts Of The Globe
3. Robinson Crusoe; Serious Reflections During the Life and Surprising Adventures of Robinson Crusoe, With His Vision of the Angelic World

By now you know that Robinson Crusoe is a tale of a man shipwrecked on a deserted island. He lives off the land for 20-some years and develops all sorts of survival skills. With that said, here is my review:
My assignment in English class was to choose a book from the Romantic period. There was an abundance of girly stories, so I chose a book that I would feel comfortable reading--Robinson Crusoe.
The book is not terribly long, like other books in this era (Three Musketeers), though it is not a quick read. The book is enjoyable, but it took a lot of sitting down and trying to focus. It was easy to read, probably suitable for 8th graders, but I had trouble getting through the book, especially during the slow parts, and I'm a fast reader.
Robinson Crusoe is filled with religion, which put me off a bit. While I don't want to spoil anything, he allows freedom of religion on his island, but tries to make his Protestant buddy Friday convert to Christianity.
This story is definitely worth reading, especially because at some point you'll probably need to read it for school. It's a fun book, however it has dark moments, and some questionable incidents, such as selling a comrade into slavery. It is one of the better school-books I've read, having suffered through Scarlet Letter and other Puritan literature.
This book has been popular since it was published in the 1700s, an impressive feat. It is clearly a classic novel, and the sketchy scenes were normal back in the Romantic period. Slavery, racism, and no PETA means that this book was written without the limits we see today. Go ahead and read it if you like adventure or the movie Castaway. Four stars for good plot, good character development, bad slow parts, and overkill religious devotion.

Unfortunately, this book suffered the fate of many other masterpieces: be classified in the "children" bookshelf. That guarantees most editions will be abridged, censored, and forgotten, since kids today read very little and waste their time playing with horrendous japanese toys. Enough lecturing. This is a book about a man who, yes, goes through many adventures, and in the way finds himself. This is not the story of a man who goes through pleasant experiences, enjoying adventure. He suffers very much finding himself alone for many years, having to survive by himself in the midst of a desert island. The book is narrated in the first person, so it's a long monologue by a truly lonely man. His reflections are deep and moving. It's good that this is a complete and unabridged edition, since the first part is usually severed from the rest, which is a pity because it puts the whole story in context. This is a fun but also an interesting reading.

Of all the many books I read when a young boy, this is one that I remember well. It made an impression on my young mind. Every young boy or man should read it, the younger the better. It has so many lessons about life and the lessons are very focused because of the the lack of surrounding clutter of everyday life in the normal world.
In a world of make believe fantasy that most boys are bombarded with every day, this book is a good dose of adventure reality.

It is said of Robinson Crusoe that he in managing to survive for twenty - eight years on an isolated island in which he was for the most part alone provided a metaphor for Mankind itself in its solitary struggle to survive in this vast sea of a Universe. And that by his ingenuity and his resourcefulness he gave to all of us a demonstration of how we in living must learn to adapt and reconstruct our own world and lives as we go on.

And that thus in reading this work we are not reading the story of some strange shipwrecked figure from a few hundred years ago but rather reading the story of ourselves and our own struggle for survival.

In this it is not surprising that the sequel to the novel is considered far less compelling. And Crusoe's return after the death of his wife to the island he left is seen as somewhat of a failed adventure, especially as his faithful servant Friday was killed by savages in the process.

One is young and alone and can go far into distant worlds and survive. But when one is old and returns to those worlds seeking to find one's youth there one only finds those worlds have aged also- and the mirror they hold up to your face is not a flattering one.

I wonder now what it would be like to as a child set out in the world again to a distant land of adventure.

'Robinson Crusoe' lives in all of us, but perhaps most especially an really only to those who are young.

Book was wasy to read and story as we all know is familiar. Reading the original with only updates to some of the words but full tontent was an eye opener. The story is not one of just survival or of faith but a complete well rounded development of a life to become a mature and responsible person. It has all the components of commerce, honesty, hard work, care for others, and a since of right and wrong we all need to adapt to. Due to the day and age it was written it does have a very rich God and Man relationship, but that gives us an understanding of the staste of man at that time in history. More than a novel it is a life story!

Robinson Crusoe, a successful British ex-pat plantation owner in Brazil, dreams of owning slaves. He and his cronies pool their resources and it's agreed RC should go to Guinea and broker a deal with the traffickers of human misery there. On the way, he gets shipwrecked and immediately begins building fortifications against surprise attack although the island is uninhabited. He is quite resourceful and creates a sustainable paradise, yet still he wishes for a servant do his bidding. After about three decades, he has a prophetic dream where he rescues a cannibal savage who in eternal gratitude prostrates himself at RC's feet....

This book reads like an adolescent wish fulfillment fantasy and is a fair, if unintended, deconstruction of the imperialist mentality--paranoia mixed with over-reaching hubris cloaked in a hypocritical morality of pious platitudes. It's pretty interesting but not nearly so good as Treasure Island, which far exceeds it as literature because of the latter's subtlety and ambiguity.

Even abridged this is quite dull writing that at times reads like an ad for the Raisin Growers' Association, but it will be amusing to those who see it for the evil-minded farce it is.

I re-read Robinson Crusoe and found it to be very rewarding. In addition to being a good adventure story, it has great insights into human nature and the struggle of a man in his relations with God, other humans and nature. Crusoe serves as a character with whom many people can identify. Contrary to what a few other reviewers said, a careful reading of Robinson Crusoe shows that the main character is very sympathetic to persons of other races and religions. Slavery and religious conflict pervaded the world when this book was written. For his time, Robinson Crusoe treats persons of other backgrounds with respect, decency and understanding.

This seventeenth century classic chronicles the story of Robinson Crusoe, an Englishman who leaves his family for a sea career. Shipwrecked and abandoned on a tropical island, Crusoe must find a way to survive. During his castaway adventures, Crusoe wrestles with God's fate and is challenged to answer the haunting question: is there somebody else on the island, or is he just going crazy?

Despite the exciting premise, Robinson Crusoe is not really an 'exciting' novel. Indeed, each chapter title gives away the chapters' events. Moreover, Crusoe, who narrates his journey, is more concerned with describing the shape of the tiger's teeth, the nature of his growl, and various other details instead of building up any excitement about the encounter. Crusoe takes great pains describing how he counted all his objects and divided them up into equal segments.

Another theme about the book is Crusoe's preoccupation with mastery. Crusoe is determined to dominate everything he comes in contact with. In fact, when teaching Friday English, he teaches him to call him "Master" before teaching him "yes" and "no." In fact, Crusoe never refers to any other character by their name--very odd.

Despite these peculiarities, Daniel Defoe has created a wonderful story and portrayed it with utmost detail. Defoe really thought about every aspect of human survival, and provides an uncanny amount of realism. If you like adventures, and don't mind long descriptions, then this book is perfect.

I read this book for the first time much later than most would probably read it- at 34 years old- but it was worth it. The familiar story of a man, the sole survivor of a shipwreck, taking refuge on a desert island and spending most of the next 25 years in complete isolation is a classic tale that should be read. Seeing Crusoe learn how to survive on his island, using whatever supplies the ship he came in on and the island provide, is an informative and eye-opening read. People familiar with his companion Friday would be surprised at just how late he debuts in the book (more than halfway through, but it is a short boook). The racism is this book is the most troubling aspect, as the savages and Friday are presented in very stereotypical ways- wild, superstitious, servile- and certainly very negatively compared to other non-Englishmen in the novel (Brazilians, Spaniards, etc.). I would recommend the novel, but one must beware of this portrayal.

In the literary world it is perhaps blasphemy to say a bad word against Daniel Defoe's most acclaimed novel. So here goes. The fact that the book was originally titled The Life And Strange Surprising Adventures Of Robinson Crusoe illustrates the major flaw in Defoe's literary form. Put simply, this would be a far more interesting and gripping story were it not so superfluously lengthy. The author makes a habit of repeating himself, especially when it comes to the act of dispatching kittens, which seems to be more of an obsession here than octogenarian ladies are to MatronsApron. It is difficult, you may think, to keep the subject matter fresh when describing the daily tribulations of a fellow stranded on an island for thirty years, without occasionally repeating yourself. True, but perhaps a straightforward solution to this diminutive quandary would be to simply truncate the duration of the story. There are some wonderfully intriguing and suspenseful moments, and some juicy action to boot, but sadly these are gratuitously diluted by lengthy descriptions of the unremarkable everyday goings on in Crusoe's life, and rather than serving to build up the suspense, they merely obstruct the reader's relationship with the more exciting parts of the story.
However, those with more patience than my ignorant self will find in Robinson Crusoe a delightful tale, which as well as being a fictional documentary of the most unusual thirty years of Mr. Crusoe's life, also has time to ponder upon philosophical and theological ideas, in a style that makes the reader feel as if they are involved in the conflicts between the functionalist and cynical thoughts going on in Crusoe's mind. It may not be a gripping white-knuckle adventure, being rather more leisurely and acquiescent, but it is still rather easy to see why Robinson Crusoe is regarded by some as one of the greatest novels of all time.

In the literary world it is perhaps blasphemy to say a bad word against Daniel Defoe's most acclaimed novel. So here goes. The fact that the book was originally titled The Life And Strange Surprising Adventures Of Robinson Crusoe illustrates the major flaw in Defoe's literary form. Put simply, this would be a far more interesting and gripping story were it not so superfluously lengthy. The author makes a habit of repeating himself, especially when it comes to the act of dispatching kittens, which seems to be more of an obsession here than octogenarian ladies are to MatronsApron. It is difficult, you may think, to keep the subject matter fresh when describing the daily tribulations of a fellow stranded on an island for thirty years, without occasionally repeating yourself. True, but perhaps a straightforward solution to this diminutive quandary would be to simply truncate the duration of the story. There are some wonderfully intriguing and suspenseful moments, and some juicy action to boot, but sadly these are gratuitously diluted by lengthy descriptions of the unremarkable everyday goings on in Crusoe's life, and rather than serving to build up the suspense, they merely obstruct the reader's relationship with the more exciting parts of the story.
However, those with more patience than my ignorant self will find in Robinson Crusoe a delightful tale, which as well as being a fictional documentary of the most unusual thirty years of Mr. Crusoe's life, also has time to ponder upon philosophical and theological ideas, in a style that makes the reader feel as if they are involved in the conflicts between the functionalist and cynical thoughts going on in Crusoe's mind. It may not be a gripping white-knuckle adventure, being rather more leisurely and acquiescent, but it is still rather easy to see why Robinson Crusoe is regarded by some as one of the greatest novels of all time.

I like this book because Daniel Defoe can grasp your attention within the first two chapters. He had caught mine with Robinson Cruesoe's ways.
Defoe makes his character stand out, and lets you see the relationships in which Cruesoe makes. You feel like you know what Cruesoe is like, after only a few chapters.
The development of this book, and its characters is extraordinary. With Cruesoe, throughout the book, you see his tenacity, and how he just won't quit, he won't let go of survival. You also see how Cruesoe's friend can learn English, and understands so he can communicate.
The action in which Robinson goes through is incredible. He battles storms, and gets in fights with cannibal hunters, and fights with survival. With Cruesoe, you wonder how one man does it.
The plot, having action packed pages, out standing vocabulary, excellent development, and interesting twists, makes you sit at the edge of your seat, and want to read faster.
Though the book is fiction, it still has a moral. The moral that I think is having a lot to do with colonial times. Having no refrigerators, no computers, no television, and no microwave dinners. This book shows that man can live without modern conveniences. He doesn't need any of the fancy electronics we have made to be content.

I am Bobby Rodriguez, a 6th grader. I am a student at Stanley British Primary School. For my book report I chose to read Robinson Crusoe. It is a captivating book about a boat that gets caught in a bad storm and everyone dies except Robinson and he swims to land. I really enjoyed reading this novel.

The Book Robinson Crusoe is an adventure book. It is about a little ship that only had about 30 people on it. The crew got stuck in a big storm. It was a hurricane. They stayed under the cabin for 12 day's and 12 nights. Those 12-days and 12 nights it rained the whole time they were under in the ships cabin. They finally got out and saw land. They thought the ship in minutes was going to timber and it was still raining. Two men fell over board. So the crew hopped on the little boats and tried to get to land. Everyone died expect Robinson. He made to land. He was going to face a lot of problems, for example he had no food, he no weapons to hunt, he had no dry clothes and he had no place to sleep. So Robinson was pretty much shipwrecked on a deserted island. Robinson was going to learn to stay alive on a dangerous land. He must hunt, build shelter, and make this island his home. And his question is will he ever get home? That next day Robinson had to try to get back to the ship so he could get supplies to stay an alive. When he went back he found two cats that were still alive on the boat, he got food, guns and ammo. To get all of his supplies to the island he made a raft, using branches and rope. After time he made a house in a cave and knew where to get food and where to hunt. He was actually enjoying him self on the island. Robinson thought he was the only living soul on the island until one day when he saw some Native Americans. He didn't talk to them because he was an afraid they would kill him. In fact, he hid from them. After 15 years, finally they found him, but Robinson didn't want to leave he was really enjoying him self there. That is my summary of Robinson Crusoe.

I thought Daniel Defoe was a pretty good author, but not the best. The reason I say this is because I didn't think his descriptions were that detailed I had a hard time picturing the island and setting in my head. I thought in the book there was really no hard word for me. Next time I should choose a more challenging book. I thought the writer's style of sentence's were really good, in my opinion because he mixed it up with short, choppy and long sentences. I really enjoy a book were an author does this, it makes it more in enjoyable for the reader. I like how the author never stays on one topic for too long and jumps around on the topics. I was disappointed that he didn't leave the island. I thought as I read it that he wanted to leave. I felt confused. So I really enjoyed this, but I didn't really like the ending. Overall, this is one of my favorite books and it is a classic.

The world knows of and has been inspired time after time by the story of ROBINSON CRUSOE, but how many people have read it in recent generations? I went back to it as part of my ongoing effort to fill in the gaps in my English major background. I found some surprises.
ROBINSON CRUSOE was billed as a boy's adventure in my youth. In college, Defoe's MOLL FLANDERS was on the syllabus and RC was only mentioned in passing though it is arguably attributed as the first English novel. The culture into which Defoe introduced RC was driven by a confident, literate middle class that eagerly consumed real life adventure and crime stories. Attempting to tap into that audience and achieve the quality of a true story, Defoe introduced the elements of verisimilitude and a first person, middle class narrator to fictional writing. He was, in his lingo, seeking to tell the truth through a lie, which stands as the guiding principle for fiction. The psychological development of the protagonist is brilliant and the description of setting and events are vivid. Not only does reading RC take us back to the Ur-moment of the novel form, it is a magnifying glass on the history and social issues of the 16th and 17th centuries.
The lifespan of RC's freshness for readers probably ended with my generation, the baby boomers. We were the first to possess across social and cultural lines enough information of the world to know that what RC claims to have found on the island is purely imaginative and that the concepts of slavery and the superiority of the white European are unacceptable. Cannibalism and realistic foraging for animal-based food are rarely considered fun entertainment nowadays, neither are the unenlightened methods RC deploys for controlling the cat population he introduced to the island. Although the Harry Potter series lured children back to thick books, I don't think today's youth are prepared for Defoe's lengthy narration and extensive vocabulary, clean and fluid as they are.

35 years. 35 years away from home staggering and struggling in a world mired of being and apprehension. 28 years. 28 years of being stranded in a nameless,desolate island right in the middle of nowhere with no prospect of ever gaining salvation from a ship-wrecked life. this is the theme around which Daniel defoe's time-sustaining classic "Robinson Crusoe" revolves and actually on several occasions,it transpires elements of epic proportions and as the novel unfolds,the reader is compelled by the gripping narrationof a man who's the author of his life's mess himself.

Set against the backdrop of the 17th.century,Daniel Defoe's most acknowledged work takes us deep into the realm of adventure,broadly underlined by an unforseen future and constantly being threatened by ever-increasing dangersall around. It isan entralling tale of a 19-year old adventue-seeking fanatic of sea boy's tale of danger,misadventures and ardent mysteries. Robinson Crusoe is the third oldest child of his parents whose complacency in his own demeanour and rash-headedness carry him faraway from his parents's advices to a sea that was consistently swelling in disasters. He doesn't even pay dangers that lay ahead of him in by the waves of time. The first episode of this Englishman's journey on sea is briught to an abrupt but lucky terminationbut the pirit of adventure shrouds him and he goes on to try his luck once again. This time the eponymous protagonist of the novel is captured by the Turkish Moors near the Canary Islands and is restrained as a slave for two years. Butthe "surprising change of my(his)circumstances from a merchant to a miserable slave" was trimmed in space by Crusoe's own ingenuity to escape and the young man was metamorphosing from a warm-blooded human creature to a bruised and mature experienced man.

Several years of plantations in Brazil and being engulfed by foreign friends didn't cut any ice on his deep-embedded sense of adventure and when a group of merchants request him to lead them to Guinea,the former prison of Crusoe,to bring negroes to Brazil,Robinson Crusoe readily subscribes to the dictates of fancy rather than of reason and becomes,what he himself later so candidly admits,"the wilful agent of all my(his)own miseries".

The "inexpressible joy" of seafaring and the maiden ovvasion of captaining a ship is all that ephimeral and a catastrophic storm sweeps all of his ship's crew off their livesand only Crusoe is left alive. but only just. He's standed on an island indiscernible on a map without even a chimera of ever returning to England alive or dead. Then begins a narration,for the best part gripping and capturing the reader's imagination but onvarious instances developing into slow rhythms,that coalesces the reader into the life of a person who has now transcended to become synonymous with utter utter loneliness.

Composed in a touching first-peson narative,the life of a man severely distorted by the myriad forces of adventure and uncertainly that he himself gave birth to,who endures a lonely life on an island devoid of any other human being forms the bulk of "Robinson crusoe". Crusoe at first perceives himself to be an "unfortunate dog,and born to be always miserable" and likens the confined area of the island to "a person to me(him),and that in the worst sense in the world". Then he learns to claw out optimism from the darkest of propositions as would all men in his shoes and superadding dogs,cats and parrots along with the floura to his life,Crusoe builts an abode,calling ih his "country house" on some occasions and "castle" on other occasions. The fear of cannibals and wild beasts gradually wears off and so does the unnamed agony of isolation. Time teaches Robinson Crusoe to make the best of life and as a necessary distraction,our hero discovers new meanings in God and religion and appreciates his fate for keeping him in one piece when others of the ship had fallen to Death's clutches. He begins to compare himself to a king and the island to his engrossed mean self-seeker to a pious,sober personality is complete when he asunders all intensions to return to his homeland.

The conceivement of the theme of the book is a novel one and like other coincidences and twists in the book,the sudden arrival of savages to Crusoe's island is massively significant to the constuctun of the plot. Indeed the acting of Crusoe as the "Saviour" of the cannibal Friday---as named by Crusoe himself---is a major conjunction to turn the classic from the path of tragedy to that of a fairy-tale gratification. One by one happy occurrences are showered on Crusoe as he gathers a flock of aide-de-camps and returns to England in 1687 after spending 35 tears away,only to find a changed landscape back at home.

"Robinson Crusoe" may apparently seem to be a novel concentrating on an individual but behind this shimmering screen lurkshadow of sarcasms and taunts. In several examples,Daniel defoe pokes at the Anglo-German bitterness with te Germans often being denigraded as so vividly illustrated in this instance:".....cut off his head as cleverly,no executuioner in Germany could have done it sooner or better". The founder of British journalism doesn't edit the English crimes either---thrugh the lips of the savage Friday,he compares his compatriots's urge to murder to the cannibals's drive to eat human flesh. The abject custom of slavery too is broadly depicted in this work.

Dotted with witty taunts and underlined by an undulating pathos,daniel defoe's landmark novel too has its own defects like all works of literature. Robinson crusoe keeps a claender and that's alright,he lists the anniversaries of his arrival to the island and that's even more apt. But what about his birthday? How can a man be so naive to neglect his own birthday? Perhaps this has to do more with the author's loathing of his own,and here Mister Defoe fails as an artist,at least to those who believe that the artist must never reveal himself in his art as Oscar Wilde believed. As this narration is in retrospection,so we know that Crusoe is still alive and this actually embellishes the suspense to some extent. Moreover,there's a lack of unity of time somehow and as narrated by a well-bred and well-learned man,the book should've possessed a greater degree of sublime dictin than it actually does.

But despite all the flaws and shortcomings in "Robinson Crusoe",the reader is never in misgiving about the thrill in te book. The end too is a massive reminder to us that the scheme of adventure once patterned is immensely difficult to break apart. Crusoe finds both his parents dead and other relations scattered hither and thither but after years of consolidation of money and strength,the man of the sea returns to his fancy land. He goes back to his "old hutch" to revive old relations and concretises the uninhabited island into a flouishing one. The conversational style,genial rapidity of the unity of action and a touch of hope all make one regard this book as one of the best in English literature.

I am sure everyone has a list of books they should read , if not they should. No not the list of current best sellers,but that list of books you should read within your lifetime. There are many sources for such a list and this title should and undoubtedly is on it. So do yourself a favor and read it. Oh if you don't have that list yet it's probably time and there very easy to find, online most colleges offer there version of recommend reading lists.

Robinson Crusoe is the perfect treat for the wilderness lover. The novel takes the reader on a journey through many hardships that the main character encounters in order to display just how trying nature can be. Almost every new day, Crusoe must find and develop a new survival tactic in order to stay alive. There are several reasons why one should engulf in reading this book.
Robinson Crusoe displays strength and incredible will to survive. This can be very inspiring to someone who does not have a lot of confidence in themselves. Crusoe has faith in himself and God, believing that he will be guided in the right direction. God plays a large role in his everyday life. Crusoe never was a religious man before he was stranded on the island, but he believed God had allowed him to be the sole survivor of the shipwreck for a reason and he owed it to God to be the best man that he could be.
Another reason to read this book is that it shows that one can do whatever they put their mind to. Crusoe worked long and hard to create things that will facilitate his survival and make things more convenient for himself. He creates a protective shelter, makes his own tools, baskets, and pots, and even grows and raises his own food.
This book will also get many people to realize just how good their lives actually are. Many, not all, of us have lives that are not threatened by wondering how we will get our next meal or if someone or something is out to hunt us down, but Crusoe must face these dilemmas and find ways to secure himself. The wonderful thing about this novel is that it shows how difficult these tasks can be, yet Crusoe does not give up and he pursues his goals until they are accomplished.
This novel can instigate someone to try something new that perhaps thay were uneasy about doing before. Robinson is faced with so many new surroundings at once, yet deals with them so well. If he would have panicked, he eventually would have starved to death. Instead, Crusoe thinks logically and pursues what is needed to survive.
Robinson Crusoe is an amazing adventure novel that explores the life of a very strong-willed man. The main character tells his own story and it is as if he is speaking directly to the reader, which makes it seem even more like reality. Daniel Defoe has written a great novel.

I thought that I had read this book as a child!

Clearly, it was an adapted version since this unabridged edition provides much more detail as to Robinson's life before the shipwreck, for instance as a slave or as a planter in Brazil. We are also told what the purpose of his ill-fated trip actually was.

The writing style is uneven, with some needless repetitions. Wildly varying levels of treatment are made, much emphasis being given to the first year and the last of the 28 spent on the island. The ending is quite abrupt and little is said of the characters' life after they are rescued.

Though by no means outstanding, the narrator in the audio version does an adequate job.

All in all, this work is definitely worth reading.

This is a "must read" for anyone really interested in English literature. To be sure there are some somewhat "hokey" situations and some even "politically incorrect" (Oh dear!) but there is a reason that this is a classic.

I once bought an inexpensive set of "classics" at Walmart and one of my coworkers asked if "they were any good." That's been the state of American education for many years.

Read it. You can do it.

The century in which Robinson Crusoe had his adventures was a time of exploration and colonialism. Daniel Defoe's story is famous for many reasons. For one thing, it is one of the first books to be written in modern English. Secondly, the adventuristic appeal has won the hearts and interests of generations of readers. And thirdly, it is an affirmation of the culture and society of the times (in comparison with Gulliver's Travels, a book that was more a satire of the times).

The book is set up in three parts, those being Crusoe's exploration of the world, being cast away on the island, and the providential return to society. The three parts are used to establish the world he exists in, to defend the world he exists in, and then to return to it after he's been able to properly exist outside of it.

Many readers may find a lot of comfort in his story. His ingenuity, perseverence, and industry combine somewhat melodramatically with his humbleness and self-discovery of God, which he defends mightily throughout. The story on a whole is hopeful and endearing: work hard, respect God, and even the most unlucky of man will abide.

Unfortunately, his tale hasn't aged well. The use of cannibal savages, slaves, and the like throughout the novel might offend some people. The constant care for divinity is at first really refreshing, but becomes tedious as the book starts to fall into a pattern of comfort-discomfort-speculation-God-comfort which may have been very enriching on the time, but today gets tedious. I don't want to intone that piety and response to the Bible is bad, I'm just saying it's out of place in modern vernacular.

Defoe himself shows a comprehensive understanding of the language, the characters, and the times. It is, really, a remarkable piece of writing structurally. However, its themes have aged, making it less than Universal, and for that matter somewhat misunderstood with modern-day audiences.

I'd say get this, the Dover Thrift edition. It's cheap, unabridged, and includes a quick introduction that makes the reading experience vastly more enriching. Otherwise it may be time to set this story to rest.

--PolarisDiB

After seeing the movie Castaway with Tom Hanks I had an urge to read this book. It is an interesting autobiography-like story of Robinson Crusoe getting stranded on an island. It is easily a classic if you take into account when it was written, almost 300 years ago.
Reading this novel was like reading three books in one. Yes that's right, three for one!
You get to read about Robinson's wealth, inventory and production and he blabs on and on about his island's production. An example is he may say something like this: "I killed and ate 2 goats today and was pleased as well. Then I moved some sacks of rice from the cave to the castle." This gets quite boring but send a strong message that he went from having little to a great deal with hard work.
Another of the books in this novel is an example of man's previous Religious and Racial superiority complex. Robinson might say something like "Twas providence that guided me to find the savages and give me the chance to spread Christendom." Robinson lets it be known that he believes his culture is the correct one. You cannot look at this as political incorrectness, as no such thing existed. Around 1660 everyone throughout the world had this worldview and many people do today.
The third book within this novel is the historical perspective. You get to see how large world was before our modern era. Robinson travels to many location and needs to overcome many obstacles, often requiring he use his mind. He only knows the technology of his day, which he speaks of often.
The first half of the novel is boring. If you can tough it through the second half gets much more interesting. I would recommend this to anyone who read my review and still has an interest in Robinson Crusoe.

Probably just about everyone knows the story of Robinson Crusoe, shipwrecked on a deserted island off South America and his long survival all alone - until he encounters Friday, whom he "civilizes" into the perfect English servant. (Based on a true story.) For me the best parts are Crusoe's thoughts about Providence and how it is better to find good in all things rather than to find bad. He thanks God everyday for what little he has, which he realizes is better than what he could have. The story is somewhat crude in the telling, but very effective. One of the earliest novels in our literature, and deservedly a classic.

I recall reading this in grade school but as I re-read it as an adult I was pleasantly surprised by the depth of the character development and the psychological and spiritual insights that Robinson Crusoe reveals through his reflections. Much more that just a remarkable adventure tale and a lesson in self reliance which has become part of literary mythology this story resonates with a man's self discovery under difficult circumstances.
While the main outline of the plot is familiar and recognizable there is much to enjoy in the details that make this a book to read again.

This titled includes two books, both "The Life and Strange Surprizing Adventures of Robinson Crusoe, of York, Marine" and "The Further Adventures of Robinson Crusoe". The book is bound as one volume and there was no chapter, volume or any indication that one book had ended and the other began. I found this odd binding to annoying as you are unable to know what you are reading when you are reading it.

I would have like to have read "the Live and strange", that is the first one book, and not the second. The first book was very interesting and a compelling read. Unfortunately, the second novel was less interesting as it was more focused on conveying an obvious religious message.

Robinson Crusoe is the tale of a man stranded on a deserted island. Daniel Defoe's creativity makes the novel fascinating to read. Robinson Crusoe is always discovering new things about the island and inventing new gadgets. This element of the book almost makes the reader want be on a stranded island too. Robinson Crusoe struggles to remain civilized and saves the equipment from the shipwreck. He builds a pen for his goats and dries grapes to turn into raisins. In these ways he starts his own little civilization to survive. One day Robinson finds a fresh human footprint in the sand on the beach, which means that other humans are on his island! This is the beginning of the adventure Robinson will encounter of communicating and working with a completely different human being from a savage and opposite civilization. Will Robinson accept the challenge?

I really enjoyed this, far more so than I thought I would. I got into Defoe's style of writing and was impressed by his meticulous detail. It was truly an exciting story, even knowing how it all came out. I now see why it has remained the classic it is. Crusoe's enormous industriousness is still impressive, even though one must allow for the fact that he had absolutely no time restraints. Yet he never got into a funk, always remained busy, a lesson for us all. It was far more religious and proselytizing than I had ever supposed, with many, many paragraphs on God, religion, morals, etc. And it is obvious why most editions leave out Crusoe's return to society, as the battles with the wolves and bear are kind've silly.

Description:
A middle-class Englishman rejects the comfortable lifestyle his station offers him in favor of a life of adventures. In the midst of adventuring, he is shipwrecked, alone, on a deserted island, where he lives for almost thirty years. The book is a first-hand account of his leaving England, his adventures, his years of isolation, and his return.
The Good:
Many schools of thought call Robinson Crusoe the first English novel, and it's interesting to see where the nowadays ubiquitous genre has its origin. Reading from Crusoe's perspective gives the book most of its interest, as it enables you to see the way a slightly rebellious Englishman thought (or, at least, the way Defoe assumed a slightly rebellious Englishman thought) about issues like the Spanish conquest of America, the "savages," and the bare necessities of life.
The Bad:
The text is repetitive and extremely preachy, especially when Crusoe finds religion and waxes philosophic about what being miserable really is. These phenomena are somewhat interesting the first time around, but Crusoe (Defoe?) never risks saying something only once. Many parts of it verge on the unbelievable, like when the shipwrecked sailor discovers a miraculous tree that grows quickly and sturdily wherever he puts it, which he then uses to build thick, living walls around his home. Some of the scenes that should be exciting fail to be because the language of the early 1700s doesn't lend itself well to action.
The Verdict:
It's an interesting work, but by no means a must-read. Crusoe is very self-centered throughout, which makes you wonder about whether his character is fit to function as a representative example of man left to the elements or not. Reading about how he goes about constructing a life for himself is interesting, but it lacks something because, well, it isn't true. What we're really reading is how Defoe imagines a man might build a life for himself, given the handicap of certain supplies left from his ship, etc. The book is, I think, very much a product of its time, and that's its most interesting quality. If you're looking for an interesting story of a man shipwrecked on an island, watch "Cast Away." If you want it from a slightly dry, 18th-century British perspective, you've got the right book.

I just read this book and it was great. I couldn't stop reading it. So good you must read this review!

Robinson Crusoe was a man who wanted to be an adventurer but his family didn't want him to be that. One day he was going to London on a boat when there was a great big storm that destroyed the ship and they rowed to a boat near them. Robinson sold the boat and got on another boat. This time the ship crashed into some rocks.

Robinson woke up on an island. He saw the ship so he went to collect stuff from it. One day, a storm hit and destroyed the ship. Robinson got a lot of stuff from the ship so he built a house and he had many weapons and animals. He hunted food and he had a journal and pen until the pen ran out of ink. He spent many years there.

One morning, Robinson found footprints in the sand. He knew someone else was there. He hid in his house. Then he found out cannibals came and ate animals around the island. He knew the cannibals were look for some human flesh to eat. He needs to survive!

This book was so awesome I couldn't put it down. That is only a part of the book. There are many more parts to the book when you read the book. So if you have it, read it now. If you dont have, go to the library or buy it!

This story is about the adventurer who gets stranded on the island. His name is Robinson Crusoe. He was born in the city of York in the north of England. His father is German and mother is British. He has a very large dream, which is leaving far away from his home and goes on journey by the ship. Then his story has started.
First, Robinson gets the ship by other peoplefs cooperation, gather the shipmate, and start the journey. During the journey his ship is caught in a storm, and be arrested by a pirate ship. Then he arrives in an uninhabited island coincidentally. He lives alone and has a hard time. Next, he meets the man who arrived in this island accidentally too. He calls this man Friday because they met each other on Friday. Later they fight with cruel foreigner and win the battle. Finally they can be able to go back home and live happily.
This story makes the other people who want to venture once in a lifetime be able to have the adventurous spirit. Especially to boys because they have adventurous dreams, I think. They think that to leave far away from home can make their own story. However this dream is very hard to make it happen because it is very difficult to live without family. This means people cannot live without anybodyfs help. On the other hand if they once have a chance to be able to read this book, they might feel like they are one of the character in the story and experience the same mood as Robinson. I like adventure but I do not want to make it real because it is not easy at all. I enjoyed reading this book very much because it made me feels enjoy, excite, and wonder. I recommend this book for anyone who likes action and adventure.

This book is sometimes credited as the first official novel. It starts out slow, but the story pulled me in as I lived as a castaway along with Crusoe. His resourcefulness and thoughts and feelings are what keeps us interested in the story. Once you have read a few chapters, you won't want to put it down. A very good adventure story, this book works on different levels - a romantic tale for children and an intriguing look into human nature for adults. I would recommend it for readers of all ages.

This is an absolutely phenomenal audiobook. The unabridged version of Robinson Crusoe has critical information in it that has been filtered out to produce the lesser product in the abridged version. Don't settle for anything less than Defoe's original work. The reader is also incredible. He reads with such emotion and skill that at times one feels that he/she is on the island with Robin. The extra value added is in the fact that Robinson becomes a Christian while on the island and converts his man Friday to Christianity. Our children loved it and I loved it.

Do you remember the last time you got lost? Well if you do you must know how Robinson Crusoe feels. This story is about survival and it is a very interesting story that you can learn how to survive when you get lost. One day in the deep waters of the Pacific ocean, a man named Robinson Crusoe's ship had crash in some corals. He found himself on a beautiful island full of life.
He passed the night under some big trees of the island. Robinson Crusoe decided it was a beautiful day to explore around the island. He had a rifle with two barrels full ammo which if you don't know it's plenty for a life time. Robinson was far from the coast when he heard a weird noise. When he looked back it was a fierceful orange tiger. He remembered he had made a hole covered with palms and he quickly ran to it. The tiger fell in the hole and in one month he was very obedient. One year passed and he finally built a home in a cave and with a fence to keep himself safety. Soon an earthquake occurs. His cave fell down and his tiger was killed. Robinson Crusoe was very upset because it was his only friend in the island. Robinson Crusoe soon gets to know all the island and he found something very strange. If you want to know what Robinson Crusoe finds read the book!! It is awesome.
I think this is an excellent book that explains how Robinson Crusoe survived his cast away. The author of this book is Daniel Defoe. He is an author who likes to write adventurous books.

"Great Illustrated Classics" takes Defoe's classic work and brings it down to the level a small child can understand. All of the plot developments remain, while the language is made very simple and readable. I had a delightful time reading the story aloud to my kindergarten-age son, and he enjoyed the pictures on every page. This is an excellent way to introduce a classic book to a small child. Unfortunately not all Great Illustrated Classics versions hold up this well -- the Robin Hood version was a great disappointment.

This classic man-versus-nature castaway novel has been hugely influential, but it's pretty rough for a modern reader. 300 years after its initial publication the plot feels threadbare and glacially slow, with little to distract from the author / narrator's racist views on the inferiority of Africans and Caribbean islanders. It's far more worthwhile as a historical artifact and cultural touchstone than as an enjoyable story in its own right.

The Adventures of Robinson Crusoe
By Daniel Defoe

I'm currently reading The Adventures of Robinson Crusoe by Daniel Defoe. I highly recommend this book if you like survival stories. Its full if action, and adventure. The book takes the reader(s) on a side-by-side adventure with Robinson Crusoe. The author adds in friends, foes and the struggle to survive!! Join Crusoe as he battles storms, angry cannibals, tames wiled animals, and teaches him self new skills. So don't sit on your easy chair reading the sports section in your news paper, get up and order your own copy of The Adventures of Robinson Crusoe today!!

Robinsono Crusoe by Daniel Defoe is a book that is best read by a reader who is into a survival book, with true "bring-you-into-the-stroy" moments. It describes how Robinson spends his 28 years on the island making and crafting his way through life. Robinson had to breed his own goats, grow his own barley and corn, to survive. He had his own cave and fortifications that he made under the cover of a hill, and dug into to make his "kitchen" and the rest of his house. To make all of these things Defoe set up the story so that Robinson could gather things off of his recked shio and another to use as his life necessities on the island. Which makes the book even more interesting. Robinson eventually saves Friday from the cannibals and he becomes his slave. After teaching Friday English, he learns his history... and so the book goes on untul the savages come again to try and eat their prisoners which turns out to be Friday's father and a spaniard. They go off to their original islad to get the rest of the spaniard to try and escape their islands, but before they come back Robinson and Froday leave with the Englishmen that come on another ship.

Although I've heard a lot of good things about this classic, I didn't find it as enjoyable as I had hoped. It wasn't, in my opinion, well-written. With the summary in the beginning and all of a sudden more details added as a sort of afterthought in the middle, it just didn't sit well with me. There were a few suspensefull moments and I did get caught up in some of the commotion. However, I don't think I would ever consider this a "reading for fun" book.

Initially, I was hesitant to read this book since has the reputation of being the first English novel, and would therefore be very clumsily constructed and difficult to read. However, my curiousity got the best of me, and after the first ten pages, I was hooked, unable to put it down. Indeed, though its categorization as a work of classic literature is not undeserved, this is not really accurate. It is not hallmarked with flowing prose or poetic passages. Instead the language is simple and gritty, and the plot never meddles with unnecessary details. It is such a readable book, that after finishing it, one can hardly doubt why it has been one of the most popular novels of all time: It is a fantastic story, simply told, whose sole, driving purpose is to entertain. I refuse to give away any of the plot, since the less you know, the better it will be.
I'd like to mention briefly that the Modern Library paperback is very handsome and for its quality, could easily sell at double its current price.

This is a simple, beautifully written story of a young man who rejects the advice of his father and pursues a life at sea. His fate, of course, is to dwell alone for many years on an isolated island. The main point, however, is his slow realization that, in finding God and religion, his "cup is not half empty but half full". This is NOT a childs book and should be read by those in their 30's and above...otherwise the message may be lost on youth.

In the book Robinson Crusoe, by Daniel Defoe, the main character, Robinson Crusoe is shipwrecked on an island for 30 years. When Crusoe is on the island he goes through a lot of

adventures, and has to learn to survive buy himself. One of the first things that happens to him is that he sees a group of cannibals arrive from a nearby island, and watches them kill and then eat people. He lives on the island many years facing hardships. During this time he tries to find a way off the island by building a boat. Then one day, he sees a footprint in the sand which isn't his. He finds another man that he names

Friday, because that is the day he finds him, and they become

friends.After 30 years he is rescued, and finds he has made a lot of money from a plantation he co-owned in Brazil. The sentence structure in this book is very long and difficult. For example on page 160 it reads, "These thoughts so oppressed

my mind that I began to give over my enterprise, and having hauled my boat into a little creek on the shore, I stepped out and sat me down upon a little rising bit of ground, very pensive and anxious, between fear and desire about my voyage; when, as I was musing I could percieve that the tide was turned, and the flood come on, upon which my going was for so many hours impracticable; upon this presently it occurred to me that I should go up to the highest piece of ground I could find, and observe, if I could, how the sets of the tide or currents lay when the flood came in, that I might judge whether, if I was driven one way out, I might not expect to be driven another way home, with same rapidness of the currents."

Even though this book is sometimes difficult to read because of the language, with words like "victualled"(Page 105), I enjoyed the story.It was very interesting to read how Crusoe learned to survive. I thought the cannibals would be scary to see! I thought the descriptions in the story were good, as on page 123 where he describes finding the footprint in the sand as being "thunder-struck" like "he had seen a ghost".The wrtier is also very clear about what food he ate, and how he dug a hole to protect his goats. This book would be best for readers over the age of 12, becuase of the language and content. I recommend

this book for anyone who enjoys adventure stories.

This critique is on Daniel Defoe's Robinson Crusoe. The story is about a young man, Robinson Crusoe, and his journey from a rich life in England to being a mariner and eventually being stranded on a remote island for twenty-eight years. The book is based on the true story of a mariner named Andrew Selkirk, who was also stranded on a remote island for five years. This book is a great example of the realism movement. Defoe talks about real life and its hardships, instead of writing fiction, in which everything is made up and is manipulated at the author's discretion. Defoe is also telling us to believe in ourselves, to have strong willpower, and listen to our parents. I think the novel gives a great insight on reality, and how hard real life is. It makes us think about the hardships of life and gives us the notion that we should explore our talents and have faith; that way we will succeed.
Robinson Crusoe is the son of and English merchant who chooses the life of a mariner rather than become a lawyer as his parents wanted. After going against his parent's whishes and becoming a mariner, Crusoe suffers a number of misfortunes at the hands of Barbary pirates and the elements. Finally Crusoe is shipwrecked off South America. He salvages needful things from the ship, and manages to survive in the island. During his twenty-eight year two months and nineteen days stay, Crusoe finds out the many qualities he possesses. With the help of his innovativeness Crusoe adapts into his alien environment. After several lone years he sees a strange footprint in the sand. The footprint turns out to be that of cannibals and their prisoners. One of the prisoners manages to escape. Crusoe meets the frightened man names Man Friday. Finally an English ship bound to England rescues them.
"Robinson Crusoe" is an expressive piece of writing. It is written using an English dialect. The narration of the novel is simple and is in the first and third person since Crusoe is telling only what he experienced. The tone is serious. There are no places in the novel where Crusoe is joking or laughing. The theme of the novel is most probably that we should believe in our capabilities and ourselves. We should never underestimate the powers that we possess. This is best portrayed when Crusoe learns how good he is at carpentry, pottery, construction, and baking. Crusoe never knew he had those capabilities. It was only after he tried and kept on trying that he succeeded in cultivating himself. He wanted to survive, and had the willpower to do so. Defoe also tries to tell us that we should listen to what our parents say. If Crusoe had listened to his parents, and become a lawyer, then he would not have to go through the harsh ordeal. When Crusoe is first shipwrecked, he is mad at himself for not listening to his parents.
I totally agree with Defoe and the things he addresses in the book. We should believe in ourselves, because if not, then we cannot survive. People who do not believe in themselves, who think they are low and cannot do anything, never make it. They are the ones who fail in life because if you do not believe in yourself then who will? It is not easy to live in today's world. One has to fight for his or herself. No self-confidence means no success but all out failure. If Crusoe did not believe in himself, then he would have died within days of being stranded on the island. We should have the willpower. If a person just does something without taking any interest, then are they going to do that thing right? Are they going to get anything out of it? The answer is no. But Crusoe had the willpower to survive. He used that strong willpower to learn how make his own furniture, bake bread, hunt, build a house, make clay jars. One of the most important ideas discussed is listening to our parents. Throughout the novel, Crusoe repents and asks himself why he did not listen to his parents. He knows that if he had, then his situation would not be what it was. Nowadays, some people tend to disregard what their parents say, thinking that they know what is best. But we have to remember that our parents are more experienced and they know what they are talking about. I strongly believe in this point. I have at times not listened to my parents, and suffered the consequences. Defoe's novel is a great example of one's life can take a turn for the worst. We must keep that in mind. This novel has allowed me to explore my own capabilities and inner strength. After reading the novel, I think anyone will gain more self-awareness, and give heed to what Defoe is trying to say.
"Robinson Crusoe" is novel about the realities of life, and how we should counter them. Defoe vividly describes the positive and great impact of self-belief and strong willpower on our lives, and also the negative impact of not heeding to our parents advice. I totally agree with Defoe on his generalizations of life. This book makes me more self-aware of myself, and has allowed me to explore the talents and capabilities I possess as well as my inner strengths. Defoe has written a masterpiece which will have a great impact on generations to come.

One has to take into consideration that this novel is early 19th century, so it contains much more reflection as opposed to action than we would expect in a novel. While it is in many respects a fascinating survival tale it is also a theological reflection on the consequences of our moral choices, the value of thankfulness, and the mysteries of grace.

Robinson Crusoe is a deep, engrossing story of a man who disobeyed his father and paid the consequences. Robinson always wanted to be a sailor, but his father disagrees with his wish, simply saying that his life will be so much easier if he lives the way that Robinson does now. However, Robinson disobeys his father and sets out to sea, encountering several adversities, and no matter what, landing himself in trouble. Robinson Crusoe is a book of many underlying themes, such as morality and psychology, as Robinson encounters several challenges and meets each and every one of them.
I myself had a hard time with this book at first; it almost seemed that the book did not have any real plot. Yet patience is the only thing required. From the time Robinson reaches the deserted island is when everything takes a turn, for the better and for the worst. The better being that the story becomes much more of a page-turner, and the worst being what becomes of Robinson Crusoe.
Though not a particularly long book, Robinson Crusoe does take a long time to finish, merely because of the page length and difficulty. Archaic words, if you do not know what they mean, can take away your understanding of the book. It is definitely a book to read when you are not pressed for time, but easily read in free time. People who love adventure, the sea, and possibly a deeper meaning to the story you read will love this book. I heartily recommend it to you if you fit just one of these characteristics, for it is a classic and there is a reason for that.

It would be a shame to give this novel anything less than 5 stars. With Robinson Crusoe, Daniel Defoe created the first true English novel. The novel contains character development, plot, suspense, and all other elements seen in thousands of books today. Too many readers judge this book with a limited perspective by today's standards. This book was the first of its kind. It left a legacy and a huge impact on the world. Countless others have mimicked the plot of Robinson Crusoe. Just turn the TV to "Survivor" or reruns of "Giligan's Island" and you can't help but see the same plot. Open "The Mysterious Island" by Jules Verne or "The Lord of the Flies" by William Golding and you will relive the setting of Robinson Crusoe. No book has influenced the English novel more than Robinson Crusoe.

Probably the finest critique of Defoe's landmark novel is the one appearing in a 1950's issue of MAD magazine.
Defoe inadvertantly portrays all that is immoral and hypocritical in the western man's approach to nature and the environment. Crusoe is cruel to animals (on pikes, he impales the bodies of little birds with the intention of frightening others from his crops). He is wasteful of natural resources (whittles down one large tree to make a shelf). He is an outright coward (he is terribly afraid of a goat).
This rather rambling, disorganized book is nonetheless a sharp indictment of man's supposed superiority over nature. Fascinating fodder for the student of ecological literary criticism.

I have to say..this book rocks. From the very moment our hero robinson is kidnapped by robot aliens from a distant galaxy in the opening chapter, you're on an exciting rollercoaster ride! It goes without saying that this book was far ahead of its time..aliens were a distant enough notion in the 18th century, let alone robots! The author was alienated from society for his foresights as a madman! If only they all knew now! Of course, Defoe, does not use the literal terms 'robots' and 'aliens' but his use of metaphors is very clear. There are also very erotic moments in this novel, including robinsons encounter with the two beautiful sailor robots, peggy sue and betty jane. peggy sues death left a tear in my eye as both her lovers; robinson and betty struggle to come to terms with this vibrant young womans tragic loss of life. The whole ideaology behind this novel could easily be compared to that of contemporary philosophers, such as richard simmons, which again underlines Defoes incredible foresight in such a restricted society. The only reason I did not give this romantic, action-packed novel the full four starts was that I felt that something was lost in the translation of this novel to English from its original cantonese. All in all though, I highly recommend this book, if only for the chapter describing the rudimentary breast surgery that was available in the 18th century.

This Is a great book about adventure, an I recommend it highly. The only thing about the unabridged version is it is over 200 years old, and some words used then are not used today, so some words are confusing, but you can easily look them up.

Do some literary classics become dated? Should such books ever be rewritten in modern English? Should such books ever be abridged? These are questions that my husband and I discussed after I finished reading Robinson Crusoe by Daniel Defoe.

There is no doubt that Robinson Crusoe is important to literary history. First published in 1719, it is among one of the first novels ever written. It also marked the beginning of realistic fiction, with its success leading to the popularity of castaway novels. I doubt however that the style and content of the original version of Robinson Crusoe will appeal to today's young readers.

It sure didn't when I first read it as a high school student. Then again, that might have been because I was too busy falling for my literature teacher to care about the rebellious main character, who against his family's wishes decided to take to the sea. Or so I told myself recently when our family decided to read it for our monthly discussion group. And thus I decided to give this literary classic another chance. Perhaps inspired by real-life Alexander Selkirk who lived for four years on a Pacific island, Robinson Crusoe tells the fictional story of a castaway who spends twenty-seven years on a remote tropical island near Trinidad. While on this island, Crusoe builds shelter and tools, hunts animals, and plants crops. He also witnesses cannibalism and rescues their prisoners/food. Sounds as if Robinson Crusoe has huge potential for a great adventure story, right? Too bad it's such a bore.

First, let's consider the style. It is so rambling and repetitious that it made my head hurt to read it in large chunks: "My father, who was very ancient, had given me a competent share of learning, as far as a house-education and a country free school generally goes, and designed me for the law; but I would be satisfied with nothing but going to the sea; and my inclination to this led me so strongly against the will, nay, the commands, of my father, and against all the entreaties...." Besides writing novels, Daniel Defoe apparently also wrote manuals. I believe it! A second problem I have with Defoe's style is how analytical and impassive his descriptions are: "Before I set up my tent, I drew a half circle before the hollow place, which took in about ten yards in its semi-diameter from the rock, and twenty yards in its diameter from its beginning and ending." I can't remember the last time I checked my email so often during one page.

Next, let's consider the content. It irritated me on two levels. First, Defoe was badly in need of an editor. There is an old adage among writers that one should cut the first chapter. With any other novel, this would probably eliminate the bulk of the background text. With Robinson Crusoe, one would have to keep hacking away to cut out the multiple stories about the times Crusoe went to sea, encountered storms or other dangers including captivity at the hands of the Moors, and subsequently repented (and then rescinded) of his foolishness. I'm all for skipping ahead to that fatal seafaring journey where he is marooned, because from that point until his rescue I somewhat enjoyed the story. There is also an old adage that when a story has been told, one should STOP. Someone should have given Defoe this advice. In my version (a slightly shortened form of part one published in The Children's Illustrated Classics by E.P. Dutton & Co.), after Crusoe is rescued, Defoe tortured me for twenty-five additional pages with accounts of Crusoe's life back in England. The content irritated me on a second level, in that there is material which begs for footnotes so that readers understand the context of the times wherein Defoe wrote. For example, slavery was an acceptable part of life in Defoe's time. Readers who have heard how Robinson Crusoe is a beloved story of friendship between Crusoe and his man Friday might be surprised and shocked to realize that Friday referred to Crusoe as "master". Even if Crusoe taught Friday to speak English and later converted him to Christianity, today's readers would struggle to understand how their relationship is an example of friendship.

At this point, I would be amiss if I didn't point out what I did enjoy about Robinson Crusoe. Daniel Defoe created an extremely realistic character. Crusoe reacts initially with fear to storms and natives, but eventually calms down enough to react logically to dangers. When a storm leaves him shipwrecked, he methodically salvages supplies. When a footprint appears on the other side of his island, he figures out when natives are most likely to visit and so when he should stay hidden. Crusoe is very human. I also enjoyed reading about all the tools that Crusoe created during his sojourn on the island, along with his ponderings on moral dilemmas such as when is it right to kill another man and what role God should have in his life. At first, Crusoe turns to God only in times of trouble. As God continues to provide for him on the island, Crusoe develops a sense of thankfulness and contentment for what God blesses man with in his daily life.

As you can see, there are gems in Robinson Crusoe. Unfortunately, they're so grimed in repetition and unnecessary content that they become drudgery to mine. For that reason, I found myself wondering: Do some literary classics become dated? Should a book ever be rewritten in modern English? Should a book ever be abridged?

Though I'm happy to say that I've read this book as a member of the English-literature canon, it has been a dry read. Inspired to approach it by the movie Castaway (Note however that the film is not based on the novel), I'm confronted by a overwhelming need for a modern interpretation of the stranded-isle genre.
Slow in action; ponderous with 18th century circuitious, flowery and repetitive prose; haphazardly concerned with supportive plot details -- it wasn't a long read, but about as enjoyable and juicy as a Mexican pastry.
I'd be surprised if this is still on school reading lists today considering it reflects an appauling stance on slavery and white supremacy (though true to the era). Furthermore, it openly espouses a fundamental, Calvinist theology that most school districts would altogether avoid.
Crusoe's spiritual journey is the sole theme of the book that addresses any sort of intellectual character development. Even though it grows distastful in some respects, expunge this topic from the novel and your left with a comic book. And if reduced to a characture, why wouldn't you opt for something like Stevenson's child-friendly Swiss Family Robinson? Something filled with adventure, intrigue, humor and drama?
To make this novel more enduring it would certainly have benefitted to analyze Crusoe's enduring lonliness and its effects on his psyche. Until the character Friday appears, Defoe barely mentions solitude even being an issue for Crusoe. Is not man a fundamentally social creature? Would there not be painful, enduring mental extirpations to work through?
Sigh...what else is there to say but it's a book to check off the list and move on.

"Robinson Crusoe" is tedious and foolish. It's silly and pointless. It's an adventure that generates less interest in the reader than would a technical manual on how best to stack microchips in industrial settings. This qualifies as a classic in only that it is a fossil. Rather than reading this novel I would advise you to dunk your head under water and leave it there for whatever period of time you had considered using for the reading of the book. This act will be more satisfying.
My basic problem with the novel is its lack of excitement, though there are also moralistic problems that one can't help but be troubled by. Robinson is a phrophet come to show us the way. He is the shephard and we should all be glad of his instructive presense. If "Robinson Crusoe" leaves you believing any of that nonsense or forming new ideas based on the text, see a doctor and/or confess your sins very quickly. Do not allow yourself to be intructed by foolishness spouted in a book entirely devoid of quality.
Yes, I am bitter. Time was wasted reading this book that could have been better spent trimming my lawn with scissors or warming bagels with a magnifying glass on a cloudy day. I wish that "Robinson Crusoe" would have at least cured me of my obsessive need to finish every book that I start, but it did not even do me that service. It is bad. Leave it well enough alone.

This is a phenomenal and well-written classic novel and in my opinion, the best of all the "Island Adventure" books. Crusoe, having disavowed the advice of his father, becomes a sailor. The boat he takes from Brazil is destroyed in a storm, and Crusoe, who washes up on a supposedly deserted island, is the lone survivor. With no other choice but death, he becomes quickly aware of wilderness survival. After 15 years, he makes an amazing discovery--another human footprint in the sand. From there, the book takes even more amazing twists and turns.

The book certainly includes all the adventure, survival, and excitement a book like this should have, but the real story of Robinson Crusoe is not his island captivity, but his spiritual captivity and release. Like the sub-flooring in a house, the underlying structure of Crusoe's story is the spiritual journey he takes from a man encased in his own desires and agendas, with no thoughts of God, to a man broken and humbled, searching for God. It is a read you will not soon forget

I am only halfway through Robinson Crusoe but I can tell you that of the opinions I have read so far only a few speak to the fact that it (the novel) is unique of its time and is so influential (do they really understand how it is so?). Also only a few put aside the age of the language and the temperments of the times and appreciate the fact that Defoe put daily accomplishments ahead of dramatic developments. People of the world, the daily television addicts....sometimes things take time and are not dramatic (thank you, god). I shed honest and real tears at the testimony in Robinson Crusoe about honesty and fellowship between individuals...but I am only halfway through this old book. I have read that the 2nd half isn't nearly as good as the 1st. "Thank you" (not really) for that information, though it isn't your fault cause I chose to read it because I was so hungry to read stuff on this internet about Defoe's novel. My true opinion about this novel is that I think it is an example of one person's feelings about life and life's trials and tribulations and what the hell is life about? A fairly large bite to swallow and Defoe did it in a most unique and unheralded way...bless his heart, from so long ago. His heart and love were so close to mine that I swallowed hard at some passages and shed tears at others. Crusoe isn't PC at all, at all. He is true to heart and true to others. Can't y'all see this? Can't y'all see the fairness and the love and the 'do to me as I do unto you' aspect of his thinking? What can be more democratic and free living than this?

Some great prose here, mankind.

Lost at sea and then condemned to an island to live out his life is not the only story being told in this classic novel.
It is a tale of human reflection that allows the captive and the reader to escape the bondage of life that is dolled out to people from all times in history.
It is an uplifting and religious revelation that any self-worth evangelist should read before they venture out on the television to convert lost souls.
I found it to be borderline mystical with a brutal self analylization of humanity and what the problems that plague the commonest of men are, and offering a way to escape the island of our own creation of desertion.
I highly recommend all ages to read or re-read this classic with a focus, not so much on the technical descriptions of how to survive the island, except maybe a CBS executive,but on the obvious message Defoe wanted to share with his fellow man.

I can't believe this book is considered one of the best books of all time. Forget the fact that it is poorly written with Daniel Defoe repeating himself several times throughout the first half of the book (an example would be that he retells the first three years of his life on the island at least three times in different forms), but that the character of Robinson Crusoe is such a despicable person.
How do I even begin. You have a spoiled rich kid who doesn't listen to his father's advise and sets out to see the world. He is taken prisoner and made a slave. When he finally does escape you would think that he would have learned from this experience how wrong it is to enslave others, but he doesn't. He sets up a tobacco plantation in Brazil and sets out on a voyage to Africa to enslave men to work on his plantation, when he is shipwrecked. All others on the boat are drown.
How am I supposed to feel bad for this individual? He says he has no companionship, but he doesn't deserve any. It isn't until he is on the island for several chapters that he even mentions the fact that a dog survived from the shipwreck. He had listed every last essential object he had saved from the ship several times in the earlier chapters, but since a dog means nothing to him, it is an afterthought. He has cats, but drowns the kittens. I understand he needed to eat, but this character has no morals. The island he is on is one of the few that turtles breed on, and he kills them readily. He kills a dolphin, (I'm not sure how exactly he did this, when he was on land). He kills goats while they are with their kids, and then when the kids follow him home he kills them as well. If there had been any baby seals on the island I have not doubts he would have clubbed them all to death.
When he finally meets the savage Friday he is happier to have a servant than to have a companion. I find it humorous that the man giving this savage religious counsel has no Christian morals himself. Crusoe thinks he is a good Christian, but he only looks to God when his life is in peril, and then he quickly forgets his teachings during all other fazes of his everyday world. He thinks God has cursed him. I think it is probably more that He is trying to protect the rest of the world from him.
The character Friday is one of the few things I liked about the book, when he forces Crusoe to question his own beliefs. Crusoe however takes everything about the savage for granted. How can you blame Friday for wanting to be in his own country. When Friday comes upon his Father in need, and is taking care of him, Crusoe is like a little baby that is upset because Friday isn't spending enough time serving him. Crusoe even puts down Friday's religion, when he doesn't even understand his own. Then when he converts Friday over to Christianity and Friday asks Crusoe to come over to his island and to help and teach his people, all Crusoe can think of is himself.
Later Crusoe becomes aware of some Spaniards shipwrecked on the mainland. While he is waiting for them to return, he himself is rescued. Instead of having his rescuers who become indebted to him, go over to the mainland to assist the Spaniards, he just leaves them. From one who knows what is it like to be shipwrecked himself, and that they are in danger over there, this is unacceptable. I can't believe Friday just leaves without inquiring about his father either.
Then in the end Crusoe returns, obtains money and goes back to the island and enslaves many of the savages. I kept hoping when the savages came to his island that they would have tracking skills like the Indians in the "Last of the Mohicans" and that they'd find him out and killed him. Or that Friday would be more like the savage Queequeg in "Moby Dick" who stayed true to his own religious beliefs. Alas they were not.

Steve Smith

"He felt his lungs ready to burst, his head and hands shot above the surface of the water. As the pull of the sea tried to drag him back out again, Robinson dug his feet into the sand." Robinson Crusoe is about a man, who is 18 years old, is stranded on an island, and no one thinks he is still alive. He encounters many challenges including cannibals, building a new house, making tools, and making a boat.

In one scene he has to build a fortress to protect him from the cannibals. He had wood log fence, a lookout tower, a retractable ladder, and many weapons. His house was very secure from the cannibals, but took him three months to build.

I really liked Robinson Crusoe, even thought I don't really like books where people are stranded in the wilderness. I would recommend this book for all ages and usually boys would like it, but some girls would also like it.

It's a good adverture story for children, but it is a GREAT BOOK for ADULTS. Get an unedited version and ponder this man's feelings when he finally realizes that he is absolutely alone (aren't we all?) and may never again see another human being. Then ponder his feelings when he finds comfort in that little Bible that beckons "Ask, and I will deliver you". It's powerful stuff, folks, and must reading for every thinking adult.
Your middle name is "Robinson Crusoe".

What a great book. It has the style and grace of the 18th and 19th centuries combined with the survivalist adventure of Tom Hanks' "Castaway". Better than "Castaway" in my opinion and grander in scope. It would be a mistake to classify this as "young adult fiction" when it's obviously a ripping read no matter what your age.

Most everyone in the English-speaking world has heard of 'Robinson Crusoe' and know roughly what the story is about (Englishman gets marooned on a island and runs into fellow castaway sidekick he calls Friday). And upon reading the book there are no surprises. It reads like a book written 300 years ago: it's language is a bit stiff, lots of preaching of Christianity and Christian values, absolutely no sex. There is some violence but it is not belabored nor is it graphic.

However 'Robinson Crusoe' is not a deadly dull read. Defoe's attention to detail on how Crusoe survives on the island is quite remarkable, and inventive. His interaction with Friday and other folks (..at the end of the book) is also interesting. Yet overall there is nothing here to enthrall the reader. Noted as a book for young (teenaged) readers, I think 'Robinson Crusoe' would bore anyone but the most patient adult.

Bottom line: certainly a classic and not devoid of merit, but overall I am unlikely to recommend this book.

This book was so hard to get into. It was really slow, and boring. Then Robinson got a companion, and it was a little better. And then at the end of the book, when there was all the people on the island, it got really confusing, and I could never tell who was talking, and doing the action and all. I wouldn't recommend this book to read for fun or anything, but it's a classic and all, so everyone should probably read it. Just try to read it all in one day though, or you'll never finish it.

but the key point here is that you will get an authoritative text, an interesting introduction, and a well-bound book for under ten bucks. the store can get it used for you for even less.

I teach an English literature course and I know how much my students are fleeced on certain "Anthologies". Instead, I have them buy individual paperbacks like this one. And they appreciate the savings. This edition of "Robinson Crusoe" will be appreciated by casual readers and students alike.

Rocco Dormarunno

The College of New Rochelle

This book has reached folklore status in that it is probably more known than read. Everyone knows about the shipwrecked sailor who survives by relying on his own ingenuity. But, this is only a part of the story. The real story is about a man who survives and prospers, whatever the environment, through hard work, intelligence, tenacity and faith in his God. It is an entertaining novel that also teaches. Certainly not just a children's tale. It is a complex moral novel that happens to tell a good story.

Wow. I haven't thought about this book in years, and I just stumbled upon it somehow through the store's recommendations. This illustrated edition was the first "real" book I can remember reading -- I must have been 8 or 9 -- and what a book it was. A great adventure story, gripping illustrations: the perfect tale to draw in an elementary-school kid who loves to read. I'd write more but I have to go dig out my copy!

The book told a pleasant story on how Robinson Crusoe lived on an island. Robinson Crusoe ran away from home when he was eighteen, so he could go to sea. Robinson got ceased by pirates, but soon escaped. He began living in Brazil on his own plantation. This was an exciting book you never know what is going to happen next.

that I actually finished this novel. It's pacing is slow and uneven and the narrator repeats ideas and themes. The character is interesting, although flawed in character. After his wife dies, he leaves his children in England to be raised by other people while he pursues his adventures all around the world, often in the name of "Christianity". I think a true christian would have been less selfish and stayed with his children! He abandons them and runs around the world for the rest of his life. He never even talks about his children after leaving them! Some may point to R. Crusoe as an anti-imperialism novel, but for me, I was more impressed by his crappy parenting. I guess I'm glad I read it. Maybe it's considered a "classic" because we can all learn from Robinson.

Description:

A middle-class Englishman rejects the comfortable lifestyle his station offers him in favor of a life of adventures. In the midst of adventuring, he is shipwrecked, alone, on a deserted island, where he lives for almost thirty years. The book is a first-hand account of his leaving England, his adventures, his years of isolation, and his return.

The Good:

Many schools of thought call Robinson Crusoe the first English novel, and it's interesting to see where the nowadays ubiquitous genre has its origin. Reading from Crusoe's perspective gives the book most of its interest, as it enables you to see the way a slightly rebellious Englishman thought (or, at least, the way Defoe assumed a slightly rebellious Englishman thought) about issues like the Spanish conquest of America, the "savages," and the bare necessities of life.

The Bad:

The text is repetitive and extremely preachy, especially when Crusoe finds religion and waxes philosophic about what being miserable really is. These phenomena are somewhat interesting the first time around, but Crusoe (Defoe?) never risks saying something only once. Many parts of it verge on the unbelievable, like when the shipwrecked sailor discovers a miraculous tree that grows quickly and sturdily wherever he puts it, which he then uses to build thick, living walls around his home. Some of the scenes that should be exciting fail to be because the language of the early 1700s doesn't lend itself well to action.

The Verdict:

It's an interesting work, but by no means a must-read. Crusoe is very self-centered throughout, which makes you wonder about whether his character is fit to function as a representative example of man left to the elements or not. Reading about how he goes about constructing a life for himself is interesting, but it lacks something because, well, it isn't true. What we're really reading is how Defoe imagines a man might build a life for himself, given the handicap of certain supplies left from his ship, etc. The book is, I think, very much a product of its time, and that's its most interesting quality. If you're looking for an interesting story of a man shipwrecked on an island, watch "Cast Away." If you want it from a slightly dry, 18th-century British perspective, you've got the right book.

When I picked this book up I didn't know what to expect. I had heard about it from friends who told me that it was filled with constant action. I must say they were completely right. I usually get bored easily with older books, but this one held my attention. For example, from the start, the book feature storms, pirates, and great details about how Robinson's life changes drastically. The book does not change pace after that, providing constant entertainment. Being a classic, it is written in a more intelligent way than modern books. The only bad part is that it may confuse you. Taking the age into consideration, I give this book a five star rating.

Great literature reveals itself in a great story, which this is. My problem was wading through the Old English to reveal the story. It really makes you think what if I were marooned on an island by myself. I really got to like his character, because he was so strong and resourceful, but what especially appealed to me was his self-searching and introspection. I know that sounds stupid what else could he do. Well he could of let the isolation eat away at him, until he did make contact then to find he could no longer have the ablity to interact with people. Another annoyance was (viz), yes the editor could of left those out for all I cared. Because of the Old English I would avoid young people reading this even though it sounds (and is) good.

This was a very intriguing novel indeed. Once character is the sole man of the entire novel. He gives us insight of what it really means to be left alone and to be in complete solitude with only the bare necessities of life. The most fascinating part of this novel is that even though a man is left alone for so long, he is still not insane. Anyone would imagine that a man left alone for 28 years would go insane but not Robinson Crusoe. I also thoroughly enjoy that he could build all the things that he would ever need to survive, and that he could tame goats. It is very fascinating that one man can survive for so long alone, and even after the whole ordeal he is still a gentleman and just as sane as any other person.

In the beginning Robinson Crusoe's father didn't want him to travel to sea he said that it would bring him nothing but trouble. He went anyway and while he was out sea a pirate ship got his ship, and he became a slave. After two years he decided to get away, and a Spanish boat helped him and took him to Brazil. In brazil he lived on a plantation for about 2 years and decide to go back to the ship before the pirates got him and get his gold out of the window that he left. His ship sank by an island and he was the only one that survied and he has to live on the Island until he can get some help. I think that this is a great book for young readers and people who like adventures.

"Robinson Crusoe"(can't underline), written by Daniel Defoe, teaches a life lesson through Crusoe's thrilling adventures and is recommended to people from age ten and up (minor violence is involved in the story). The story starts as young Robinson Crusoe faces a ship wreck and gets trapped in an uninhabited island. Desperate to survive, he attempts to create an environment where he can live with convenience. Through many conflicts, Robinson's wits are also shown, one of the things to catch while reading this book. Borrow the book from the library to experience the great excitement and to find out what happens to Crusoe in the island. This is one of those books that will make you stay up over mid-night.

For the reader hoping to observe man's constant struggle for survival, Daniel Defoe's Robinson Crusoe fits the bill. Marooned on a tropical island, the result of an ill-fated slave trading voyage, Crusoe is roughly and suddenly cast off from society. Forced to brave the elements or suffer an agonizing death at the hands of starvation, he is thrust into a variety of conflicts in an unforgiving environment, against cannibalistic islanders, and within his own mind, as he questions his devotion to God. Although the novel climaxes with a deus ex machina, Robinson Crusoe is a truly captivating work that can be enjoyed on different levels by all ages.

I am not about to debate wether or not this was a well written book, because it was. Obviously. The problem is, the book just kind of drags on. Not until the last two chapters did it seem to pick up. Be cautious going into this book. It's not as exciting as you'd think it would be...what with a man being stuck on an island all by himself n all...

A friend gave this book to my 7 year old second grader. Her son had liked it. I was initially hesitant to read an abridged version of a classic because I'd seen such books that didn't seem very well done. My son and I both loved this version. The adapter did an excellent job. I read most of it to him but it was at a level that he could read it himself too.

I can just imagine people sitting around their living rooms listening to someone read this book, chapter by chapter, enthralled at what the main protagonist has to go through, shocked by the appearance of the cannibals, reassured by Friday's conversion to Christianity. It would have been gripping. Ironically, the story arc is slow by today's standards, and dominated by a type of Calvanist theology that is by and large no longer popular. This book is best read with the original readers in mind.

Robinson Crusoes is a book about a man's adventures at sea. Robin is a man with dreams of going to sea however, his perents don't let him go. But, Robin decides he dosn't want to listen to them and sneaks off on to a ship. However, he ends up getting captured and enslaved by Turks. But one day while fishing for his master he escapes and gets a job on a merchant ship.However,a storm comes and wrecks his boat.Crusoe is the only survivor. He ends up getting washed up on an island and is there for about 40 years. The rest is how he survived , battles with canibals and how he gets off. It's a good book ,you should read it.

This is not merely a book, it is a novel that carries you away on teh same winds that bring solitude and gratitude to a spirited young man. The author weaves his words into a tapestry one cannot help but reveling in. You find yourself reliving his tale of woes and triumphs in your own mind, over and over again. Never has being stranded on a deserted island appeared so covetous as Robinson Crusoe first struggles to survive, learns to live, and then discovers true freedom as he lives practically physically and spiritually. The contentment of this destitute soul speaks against the idolized American lifestyle. The outlandish luxuries are portrayed for what they are as Robinson learns to live without want and without waste. Not only does he discover contentment but hope as he reflects upon his troubled and immoral life of the past. At last he turns to the only person left in his life: God. A masterpiece speaking volumes on modern culture and spirituality well before their times had arrived.

I thorougly enjoyed this novel ,not only for the good story ,but also for the life lessons learned through Robinson. Crusoe must figure out how to get by and thrive with no hope of rescue,he must learn how to change his priorities ,and his outlook on life,and faced with new challenges,he must learn how to adapt.Robinson Crusoe details the career of an errant youth who discovers hope and faith through experimentation.Robinson Crusoe is a true literary classic,and as such deserves the attention of all serious literatures. I highly recommend all ages to read this classic bok.

Robinson Crusoe was my book club's choice for June. Only 2 out of the 12 of us stayed with it and read it. Crusoe indeed did live a fascinating life, but it is told in the most boring, tedious manner. Defoe's style of writing is dry and unemotional. I did remind myself the book was written almost 300 years ago, and was fresh and different from other novels written in the 1600's. I have read many wonderful tales of wilderness survival: Island of the Blue Dolphin, Hatchet, and The Cay, so my expectations were high. Defoe spends too much time on mudane daily activities and not enough on Crusoe's feelings. Most of the "juicy stuff" of interest happens in the last 1/4 of the book. I wish I had spent my time reading The Great Illustrated Classic version, this book desperately needs paring down.

What can you say about a book that has endured for nearly three centuries, enthralling readers all through them? You will enjoy it, your children will enjoy it and probably their children will also enjoy it.

As I look over the reviews of the classic works of literature, I am appalled by how often I see the word boring being used. I guess it's because great books don't come with big screens, speakers and a joy stick. Welcome to the Millenium

As one of the most influential writers in English novel's history, Daniel Defoe's writing would be regarded as lengthy and boring by today's usual standards. Still, his novel Robinson Crusoe is what I consider a masterpiece as Robinson Crusoe decides to take fate into his own hands and ends up having an adventure thousands will try to depict the like of in the centuries to come. I liked this book for the in-depth detail that catches your imagination and gives you dreams at night. One of the faults I observed though is that his sentences and words can be stretched until half your attention is on deciphering the meaning of them instead of the story.

I felt as though I were the one on the island. I could feel all of the despair and excitement Crusoe felt as he was isolated for decades. It was delightful to follow Crusoe around the island as he used his ingenuity to survive on his limited resources. Not only is this book very entertaining and captivating, but it also gives a glimse of life in the 16-1700's.

I collect children's illustrated books. I love this book partly for the classic story and also for it's beautiful color plate illustrations thoughout. It also has black and white pen illustrations. It's a beautiful book with a great story to read.

Robinson Crusoe is a wonderful tale of a misfortunate man and his adventures. It begins with a young Robinson Crusoe ignoring is father's warning of going to sea. He learns to regret this, though, as he becomes enslaved, and later shipwrecked; he basically defines "misfortunate". As a shipwrecked man, he must make use of his surroundings. He must painstakingly construct conveniences we take for granted--and things he needs simply to survive. This book won't get boring, as there are plenty of adventures along the way.

I just finsished reading Robinson Crusoe by Daniel Defoe, and let me tell you what a long story it was. It was written in old english, so at the start it was very confusing and hard to understand. But if you keep reading you get the hang if it. I thought it was a pretty good story. I think it would be so hard to live on this island all by yourself for twenty-four years have hardly anything. Then finally one day save a prisoner that ends up your friend, Friday. Followed by several more joining yor little island. The plot was good, and well written but it seems to drag on. Until the end, when he gets all these companions. The end went by so fast. First, he has all these friends and then they leave for England. He sells his plantation, gets married and has three kids. I gave it three star because it was hard to understand but very well written.

Defoe has a wonderful control of language and the ability to present a realistic character, albeit, in an unrealistic situation. The story is enjoyable, but the underlieing moral is overworked by Defoe. It is simply: put your faith in God and everything will turn out wonderfully for you. A nice idea, but he tells you at every possible opportunity. Not my favorite, but a must read. My second biggest complaint is the author simply glued on an extra chapter or two at the end. That's what persuaded me to only give it 4 stars.

For twenty-four years Robinson Crusoe was stranded on an island far away from anything, after being the only survivor of the shipwreck. Until one friday he rescues a prisoner I felt that book moved very slowly through the whole story, but it kept me interested throughout it. He turns his deserted island into a tropical paradise and learns to deal with his surroundings. It was an easy read. He returned to England the eleventh of June, 1687; after thirty-five years of being stranded out at sea. Daniel Defoe made this book made it seem more realistic than fiction, with his very descriptive writing. Overall I liked the book, because it had a good plot.

I liked the whole idea of surviving alone and figuring things out through trial and error. How he was able to grow grains. Also how he managed to communicate wit Friday eventually teaching him English and about God. How he repented and became a good man.

If I'm not mistaken, "Robinson Crusoe" was one of the first, if not the first modern novel. The most interesting part of the copy I had was actually the introduction which detailed Daniel Defoe's career. Defoe was in constant financial trouble and wrote "Crusoe" in part to get his creditors off his back, if only for a short while. He sold the copyright to the book for a mere 100 pounds only to see the book become the best selling book of its time, the early 18th century. Had he been able to keep the rights to it, he would've made a fortune.
I am a fan of shipwreck stories such as Steven Callahan's "Adrift", Dougal Robertson's "Survive the Savage Sea" and the Bounty muntineers' survival story "Pitcairn's Island" all of which are true stories, or in the case of "Pitcairn's Island" based on true events. So as a fan of the genre, I thought it was only fair that I read the original shipwreck story, "Robinson Crusoe". I was very disappointed. It is hard for a book written in 1717 to translate all that well into the 21st Century and I found Defoe's writing very stilted. The best part of the the story is how Crusoe salvages the ship and solves the various problems he has living by himself. Had the book ended with his rescue, I would've liked it more. Instead, the book then went on for several more chapters with Crusoe claiming his fortune and then going on a hunting expedition! Defoe obviously didn't know how or when to end the story and it just petered out. He later wrote a sequel on the further adventures of Crusoe and perhaps it is telling something about his writing and perhaps with the public losing interest in Crusoe that his Crusoe sequel is almost unheard of and unread today.
The book's greatness, if any, is that it was the one of the first novels and it's success certainly must have inspired Defoe's more talented contemporaries to begin writing novels. For that Defoe is deserving of thanks. But if you want to read a great book about being on a deserted island, read "Pitcairn's Island" by Nordhoff and Hall which is simply terrific.

I've always wanted to read this book; however, I was somewhat disappointed. There were simply to many parts of the book that dwelled on how to grow raisins, goats, corn, etc. When Robinson did go exploring the island you did find yourself envisioning the beauty of the island and the surrounding waters. I found it overall a bit of a struggle to get through it, but I would recommend to any reader that you finish it.

Best book I read all summer! It was full of pirates, shipwrecks, living on a deserted island, escaping from slavery, cannibals(yikes!). This book is perfect for family reading. Everyone will enjoy the excitement of Robinson Crusoe's adventurous life and happy ending. PS. Dogs are your best friends!

Robinson Crusoe isn't the most exciting book in the world, but its a great story. You really feel like your on that island and you got shiprecked. I loved reading about his trips back and forth to the boat and also about how he built his home as well. Some of the details were too much, but I thought that added to the overall tone of the book. A man thats all alone..untill... -Anyway, its a good book, and a classic.

I love this book. I would sit around and munch on my wood and read and read. I will shove a stick in my toe. Who the heck is Garfield trying to fool with his orange fur and black stripes? everyone knows he is a tabby. My best friend is a cactus. I think I know everything about tactical numbers and emoticons, but who's to say that the Titanic was the biggest? How many more hormon-pumped teens must be shot in the aorta before ol' bush decides to bring guns back into the schools. I like to eat broadswords.
Let's hear it for Robinson Cruesoe!
Let's hear it for wood munching!!
Let's hear it for dog warts!!!
Harry Potter is a transvestite garter snake.

The Penguin English Library edition features the 1719 text, but lacks any of Defoe's prefaces to the novel, something to be aware of if you're looking for something resembling a study edition. Other than that, the book arrived in excellent condition (the store.es and regular postal service).

Robinson Crusoe escapes from slavery himself and (after selling his fellow escapee) sails off to acquire a supply of duty-free slaves. When he is marooned, he spends YEARS figuring out how to acquire a slave for himself on his desert island -- which he does! After a lifetime of religious contemplation, the only regret he has about his slave-trading is that he should've stayed home and just bought them at the market.

This is the complete review as it appears <a href="[...]">at my blog dedicated to reading, writing (no 'rithmatic!), movies, & TV</a>. Blog reviews often contain links which are not reproduced here, nor will updates or modifications to the blog review be replicated here. Graphic and children's reviews on the blog typically feature two or three images from the book's interior, which are not reproduced here.

Note that I don't really do stars. To me a book is either worth reading or it isn't. I can't rate it three-fifths worth reading! The only reason I've relented and started putting stars up there is to credit the good ones, which were being unfairly uncredited. So, all you'll ever see from me is a five-star or a one-star (since no stars isn't a rating, unfortunately).

I rated this book WARTY!

WARNING! MAY CONTAIN UNHIDDEN SPOILERS! PROCEED AT YOUR OWN RISK!

I learned a few things from this novel. For example in 1719, 'nor' was not paired with 'neither' and no one cared what they ended a sentence with. I learned that Crusoe's original name was Robinson Kreutznaer, that the long form of 'viz' is 'videlicet', and that the original title of this novel was:

The Life and Strange Surprizing Adventures of Robinson Crusoe, Of York, Mariner: Who lived Eight and Twenty Years, all alone in an un-inhabited Island on the Coast of America, near the Mouth of the Great River of Oroonoque; Having been cast on Shore by Shipwreck, wherein all the Men perished but himself. With An Account how he was at last as strangely deliver'd by Pyrates.

That aside, this novel was one of the most tediously interminable and boring novels I've ever had the misfortune to read in my life (I guess the title should have told us that, but no one uses the original title any more for good reason). I swear that the more of these so-called 'classics' that I read, the less do I understand how they ever became classics. Unless 'classic' is merely a euphemism for 's***'.

Published in 1719, the novel is of interest in that it's a historical novel which was actually contemporary when it was written - or nearly so. The novel is set a half century before, in the 1650's.

The problem is that it's nothing more than a litany of Crusoe's repeated maritime disasters - and not just the one for which he's known. There was a troubled voyage from Hull to London, wherein he was shipwrecked. He set out again, this time on the high seas and was captured by pirates, becoming a slave for two years, whereupon he escaped and ended-up founding a plantation after winding-up in South America.

He sets out to bring slaves from Africa and gets his sorry ass shipwrecked again, and for my money he could have rotted there. The way slaves are talked about - exactly as they were treated unfortunately - as pieces of equipment, as commodities, as tools, as machines, as possessions - is truly sickening. And all of these slavers and slave owners were religious people - they believed in the Christian god, or the Islamic god, or the Judaic god. All of them.

His man, Friday, is given that name by Crusoe who then tells Friday that his own name is "Master"! I know this was how things were back then, and if the novel had some literary merit, I would view it a bit differently, but it has no literary merit. It's nothing more than a tedious recital of things he did: salvaging material from a wrecked ship, putting up a 'tent', digging out a cave, planting corn. Planting more corn. What a great corn yield he had. He must plant more corn. It's corny to the max.

When he's not obsessing on corn, he's obsessing on his fowling pieces (shotguns) and how many pounds of shot and powder he has to hand. I wished he would just shot his mouth.

I cannot recommend this drivel.

About 50 percent of this book is about the well known story of the shipwreck. What was truly a pleasant surprise was the ride with the main character's journey of being a rebellious youth to a wise and deeply mature Christian. This story was written in 1808 about adventures in the late 17th and early 18th before even the most basic of technological advances we enjoy today. Yet, the spiritual and character themes are timeless.

I have read this book a very long time ago and thought it was a very good book.It kind of stinks though that crusoe got all his things from the ship.It would of been better if je only could use the stuff he had on the island.Friday is very funny.

The Great Illustrated Classics are the perfect way to introduce classic novels to your children. Their version of Robinson Crusoe is no exception! My son was captivated throughout, and read the book numerous times.

This book is plainly boring in every way. The plot should be replaced and the character was completely and utterly uninteresting. The first half of the story deserved a whopping rating of negative 2 stars, and the second half deserved roughly one star. If you have any intention of reading a book that you will cherish in your heart, then I suggest that you would please disregard this novel and find one that is more interesting, like "Barney Goes to the Zoo". Do not, and I repeat: DO NOT read this book. If you would like to take interest in this novel, save your money and check it out of the library or borrow it from a friend. You WILL be disappointed.

There are many people who believe that, if something is a "first" or "innovative" or "influential" then it is necessarily great. Robinson Crusoe was in many ways a first, innovative and influential--no one can ever take that away from this book. Seeing as how I am *not* one of those who automatically take that to mean that it is a "great book," however, I have to tell you: it is not.

Maybe this was a great book for people in the eighteenth century who had never had the opportunity to read better novels, but to the modern ear it falls very flat on a number of levels. First of all, there is the pacing of the story.

Most everyone knows that the novel is about Crusoe's being shipwrecked on an island, and how he meets up with "his man Friday" and then, presumably, they get off of the island. Would it surprise you to know that Friday shows up more than 2/3 of the way through the novel (page 220 out of 320 pages in my copy). Friday really isn't all that central to the story, you see, and in fact, when the rescue happens at the end, Friday isn't brought up. We assume that Friday gets saved, too, or that something good happens to him, etc., but we'll never know, because Crusoe (and Defoe) don't care about him. The reason why everyone knows about Friday is because his arrival is one of the few interesting events sprinkled (lightly) throughout the interminable narrative.

Robinson Crusoe isn't about his friendship with Friday. Do you know what it *is* about? It is about Crusoe building a fence. It is about Crusoe baking bread. It is about Crusoe rearing goats. It is about Crusoe trying to make a tobacco pipe. It is about Crusoe trying different methods to make earthen pots. These are the "events" that take up the bulk of those first 220 pages. No dialogue--all is Crusoe's internal narrative and, worse still, he repeats himself. Many of the events he presents to us twice, once as a reminiscence and once in the form of his diary entries from that time.

Further, I'm certain that there are exciting ways to describe trying to make a tobacco pipe or baking bread or what not, but Crusoe's manner of narrative is detached reflection with long sentences and stited, upper-class grammar. There is no excitement in it.

Crusoe, himself, is a jerk. He's shipwrecked while going on a voyage to pick up slaves for his plantation (seriously). While you may think that, well, fine, the novel is trying to teach him a lesson... no! "His man Friday" winds up being his slave--Crusoe is all about slavery. Crusoe becomes a devout Christian during his stay on the island, but that doesn't make him any less of a jerk, only more self-righteous, as he converts Friday from his mistaken religious beliefs into Crusoe's own mistaken religious beliefs. As an example of how Crusoe's religion works, near the end of the novel, Crusoe discovers cannibals who occasionally kill and eat their enemies on "his beach" (Crusoe claims the entire island as his property). He first thinks to kill them, but decides against it because God, in His wisdom, must have made them cannibals for some reason--God is omnipotent and all-wise, after all--and thus who is he, Crusoe, to interfere with God's works? And, Crusoe, reflects, wouldn't killing these cannibals make him a murderer, too? In fact, no better than the cannibals? Later on, he *does* in fact slaughter the cannibals... because they had captured and were going to eat... a white man. That's right--it was hunky dory for them to execute and eat someone (part of God's plan, in fact) so long as that someone was a "savage." But as soon as a white man was threatened, all bets were off, and Crusoe became a weapon of God's wrath.

Crusoe's biases and prejudices and religious hypocrisy all seem to be, in fact, Defoe's, and that's why they just lie there unchallenged, untouched. Of course, most of these failings would've been shared by Defoe's society, and so it's understandable in that sense, but it's still very awkward and unsettling for the modern reader to encounter.

It would've been forgivable, perhaps, had Crusoe been a better novel in other respects, but it isn't. The novel is haphazzard, boring, contrived in places, filled with dubious morality and mind-numbing descriptions of "what's he going to eat today?" and carpentry and racism and religious intolerance and hypocrisy.

I'm sure it was neat-o for people a long time ago, but we, today, have many better books to read than this one. Let's acknowledge Crusoe as a trailblazer and move on, but let's not call it "great"... because, it isn't.

I especially liked this book because of the adventure and since it is a classic, and not such a bad book after all, I gave it 5 stars. But then I took one away because it was hard for me to follow. I recommend you at least try to understand this book. Happy Reading! :)

This book is a disgrace to the lable "classic." It repeats too much stuff again and again and begins to bore you out of your wits, so much that I'd like to burn my copy of the book in the fire, but its the library's. Although it did have some good points, I'd rather be stuck on his Island than read this book again. Thankyou, and Goodnight.