The Complete Novels of Daniel Defoe (Illustrated)

The Complete Novels of Daniel Defoe (Illustrated)

by Daniel Defoe
Epub (Kobo), Epub (Adobe)
Publication Date: 13/01/2024

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In "The Complete Novels of Daniel Defoe (Illustrated)," the reader is immersed in a rich tapestry of 18th-century prose that blends adventure, satire, and social commentary. Defoe's narrative style, characterized by its realism and meticulous detail, deftly navigates the complexities of human experience through iconic works such as "Robinson Crusoe," "Moll Flanders," and "A Journal of the Plague Year." This illustrated collection enhances the reading experience, providing a visual context to Defoe's explorations of survival, morality, and individualism, reflective of the emerging modernity of his time. Daniel Defoe (circa 1660-1731) stands as a pivotal figure in the canon of English literature, often heralded as one of the founding fathers of the novel. His experiences as a merchant, journalist, and political pamphleteer informed his writing, imbuing it with a keen awareness of contemporary issues such as colonialism, economic hardship, and social mobility. Defoe's ability to weave personal narratives into broader societal critiques reflects his unique perspective during an era marked by significant change. This illustrated anthology serves as an essential contribution to both academic and leisure readings, offering insights into Defoe's multifaceted characters and their profound impacts on literary history. Readers will find both timeless entertainment and important lessons in resilience and human nature, making this collection a must-have for enthusiasts of classic literature.

ISBN:
8596547809821
8596547809821
Category:
Classic fiction
Format:
Epub (Kobo), Epub (Adobe)
Publication Date:
13-01-2024
Language:
English
Publisher:
GoodPress
Daniel Defoe

Daniel Defoe was a Londoner, born in 1660 at St Giles, Cripplegate, and son of James Foe, a tallow-chandler. He changed his name to Defoe from c. 1695. He was educated for the Presbyterian Ministry at Morton's Academy for Dissenters at Newington Green, but in 1682 he abandoned this plan and became a hosiery merchant in Cornhill. After serving briefly as a soldier in the Duke of Monmouth's rebellion, he became well established as a merchant and travelled widely in England, as well as on the Continent.

Between 1697 and 1701 he served as a secret agent for William III in England and Scotland, and between 1703 and 1714 for Harley and other ministers. During the latter period he also, single-handed, produced the Review, a pro-government newspaper. A prolific and versatile writer he produced some 500 books on a wide variety of topics, including politics, geography, crime, religion, economics, marriage, psychology and superstition. He delighted in role-playing and disguise, a skill he used to great effect as a secret agent, and in his writing he often adopted a pseudonym or another personality for rhetorical impact.

His first extant political tract (against James II) was published in 1688, and in 1701 appeared his satirical poem The True-Born Englishman, which was a bestseller. Two years later he was arrested for The Shortest-Way with the Dissenters, an ironical satire on High Church extremism, committed to Newgate and pilloried. He turned to fiction relatively late in life and in 1719 published his great imaginative work, Robinson Crusoe. This was followed in 1722 by Moll Flanders and A Journal of the Plague Year, and in 1724 by his last novel, Roxana.

His other works include A Tour Through the Whole Island of Great Britain, a guide-book in three volumes (1724–6; abridged Penguin edition, 1965), The Complete English Tradesman (1726), Augusta Triumphans, (1728), A Plan of the English Commerce (1728) and The Complete English Gentleman (not published until 1890). He died on 24 April 1731. Defoe had a great influence on the development of the English novel and many consider him to be the first true novelist.

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