Robinson Crusoe

Robinson Crusoe by Daniel Defoe (1719)

Shipwrecked and alone on a deserted island for 28 years, Robinson Crusoe must build shelter, grow food, and survive — until he discovers he is not alone. The novel that invented the survival genre and is often called the first English novel.

Historical Significance:
Daniel Defoe published Robinson Crusoe on April 25, 1719, when he was nearly 60 years old. The novel was partly inspired by the real story of Alexander Selkirk, a Scottish sailor marooned on a Pacific island for four years (1704-1709). The book was an immediate and enormous success, spawning countless imitations — the genre became known as "Robinsonades." Rousseau called it "the most felicitous treatise on natural education." Marx used Crusoe as a model for economic theory. The novel invented the desert island story, the survival narrative, and arguably the realistic novel itself. It has never been out of print in over 300 years.

This public domain classic was originally published in 1719. Free to read and share.