
Robinson Crusoe
by Daniel Defoe
'Robinson Crusoe' Summary
Crusoe (the family name corrupted from the German name "Kreutznaer") set sail from Kingston upon Hull on a sea voyage in August 1651, against the wishes of his parents, who wanted him to pursue a career in law. After a tumultuous journey where his ship is wrecked in a storm, his desire for the sea remains so strong that he sets out to sea again. This journey, too, ends in disaster, as the ship is taken over by Salé pirates (the Salé Rovers) and Crusoe is enslaved by a Moor. Two years later, he escapes in a boat with a boy named Xury; a captain of a Portuguese ship off the west coast of Africa rescues him. The ship is en route to Brazil. Crusoe sells Xury to the captain. With the captain's help, Crusoe procures a plantation.
Years later, Crusoe joins an expedition to bring slaves from Africa, but he is shipwrecked in a storm about forty miles out to sea on an island near the Venezuelan coast (which he calls the Island of Despair) near the mouth of the Orinoco river on 30 September 1659. He observes the latitude as 9 degrees and 22 minutes north. He sees penguins and seals on his island. As for his arrival there, only he and three animals, the captain's dog and two cats, survive the shipwreck. Overcoming his despair, he fetches arms, tools and other supplies from the ship before it breaks apart and sinks. He builds a fenced-in habitat near a cave which he excavates. By making marks in a wooden cross, he creates a calendar. By using tools salvaged from the ship, and some which he makes himself, he hunts, grows barley and rice, dries grapes to make raisins, learns to make pottery and raises goats. He also adopts a small parrot. He reads the Bible and becomes religious, thanking God for his fate in which nothing is missing but human society.
More years pass and Crusoe discovers native cannibals, who occasionally visit the island to kill and eat prisoners. At first he plans to kill them for committing an abomination but later realizes he has no right to do so, as the cannibals do not knowingly commit a crime. He dreams of obtaining one or two servants by freeing some prisoners; when a prisoner escapes, Crusoe helps him, naming his new companion "Friday" after the day of the week he appeared. Crusoe then teaches him English and converts him to Christianity.
After more natives arrive to partake in a cannibal feast, Crusoe and Friday kill most of the natives and save two prisoners. One is Friday's father and the other is a Spaniard, who informs Crusoe about other Spaniards shipwrecked on the mainland. A plan is devised wherein the Spaniard would return to the mainland with Friday's father and bring back the others, build a ship, and sail to a Spanish port.
Before the Spaniards return, an English ship appears; mutineers have commandeered the vessel and intend to maroon their captain on the island. Crusoe and the ship's captain strike a deal in which Crusoe helps the captain and the loyal sailors retake the ship. With their ringleader executed by the captain, the mutineers take up Crusoe's offer to be marooned on the island rather than being returned to England as prisoners to be hanged. Before embarking for England, Crusoe shows the mutineers how he survived on the island and states that there will be more men coming.
Crusoe leaves the island 19 December 1686 and arrives in England on 11 June 1687. He learns that his family believed him dead; as a result, he was left nothing in his father's will. Crusoe departs for Lisbon to reclaim the profits of his estate in Brazil, which has granted him much wealth. In conclusion, he transports his wealth overland to England from Portugal to avoid traveling by sea. Friday accompanies him and, en route, they endure one last adventure together as they fight off famished wolves while crossing the Pyrenees.
Book Details
Language
EnglishOriginal Language
EnglishPublished In
1719Genre/Category
Tags/Keywords
Authors

Daniel Defoe
England
Daniel Defoe is known for his lively and vigorous style, full of articulate lucid details and illustrations. The thing that makes the writing of Daniel Defoe stand out more so than others is that he w...
Books by Daniel DefoeDownload eBooks
Listen/Download Audiobook
Related books

Puss in Boots, Jr., and the Good Gray Horse by David Cory
Puss in Boots, Jr., and the Good Gray Horse is a charming children's book that tells the story of a young cat who sets out on an adventure with his lo...

Our Little Korean Cousin by Henry Lee Mitchell Pike
This book provides a glimpse into the daily life of a young Korean boy named Yung Pak. It describes his daily routine, his family and friends, his cul...

Harper's Young People, Vol. 01, Issue 13, Jan. 27, 1880 by Various
Harper's Young People, Volume 1, Issue 13, published on January 27, 1880, is a captivating collection of stories and articles aimed at young readers....

Literary Sense by E. Nesbit
This collection of short stories, written by the acclaimed author E. Nesbit, showcases her talent for crafting imaginative and engaging narratives. Th...

The Junior Classics Volume 3: Tales from Greece and Rome by William Patten
The purpose of The Junior Classics is to provide, in ten volumes containing about five thousand pages, a classified collection of tales, stories, and...

Tales of Laughter by Kate Douglas Wiggin
Tales of Laughter is a funny collection of stories from around the world that will make children of all ages laugh. The book's stories are full of wit...

Harper's Young People, Vol. 01, Issue 02, Nov. 11, 1879 by Various
Harper's Young People was a weekly publication aimed at children, featuring a diverse array of content. It included serialized and short stories, both...

Six Little Bunkers at Aunt Jo’s by Laura Lee Hope
The Six Little Bunkers are back for more adventures in this exciting sequel! This time, they're off to visit their Aunt Jo in Boston. Along the way, t...

Harper's Young People, Vol. 01, Issue 14, Feb. 3, 1880 by Various
Harper's Young People was a weekly publication for children, featuring serialized stories, short stories, nonfiction, poetry, and craft projects. This...

My Book Of Favourite Fairy Tales by Edric Vredenberg
This compilation gathers a selection of well-known and beloved fairy tales, many of which hold a cherished place in our childhood memories. The storie...
Reviews for Robinson Crusoe
No reviews posted or approved, yet...