Daniel Defoe: for which the famous writer was chained to the pillory. Daniel defoe, short biography


Biography and episodes of life Daniel Defoe. When born and died Daniel Defoe, memorable places and dates of important events in his life. Writer quotes, images and videos.

The life of Daniel Defoe:

born 1660, died 24 April 1731

Epitaph

Biography

The life of the famous writer and great adventurer Daniel Defoe seems to contemporaries a series of real mysteries. He is called the founder contemporary genre storytelling and the father of economic journalism, is suspected of international espionage and political intrigue in medieval England. Defoe's moral foundations are regarded very ambiguously: he seemed to balance between two extremes, personifying puritanical piety and bourgeois power at the same time. But the unprecedented talent of Daniel Defoe is beyond doubt, because his main brainchild - the story of Robinson Crusoe - has become a cult novel of world significance. And, probably, there is hardly a person in the civilized world who has not heard about the adventures of a lonely sailor.

Daniel Defoe was born in London to English Protestant parents. From childhood, he prepared to become a pastor and received an appropriate spiritual education in one of the most elite metropolitan academies. But contrary to the wishes of the parents future writer chose a worldly life, moreover, the most adventurous. Barely over twenty, Daniel opened his own business, investing in it almost all the available money. In business, Defoe did not like to exchange for trifles, preferring only large and truly risky transactions. Moreover, the writer was well versed in economics and politics, which helped him gain confidence in the highest circles. And it's not so much about the bourgeoisie, but about the royal family itself. It is known that Defoe contributed in every possible way to the enthronement of King Guillaume of Orange, and during his reign, respectively, "went in favorites."


And while Daniel Defoe was having fun in the field of politics and commerce, looking for himself in literature and journalism, shone in secular society, his wife Mary Tuffley brought up the Kagala children almost alone. When the children grew up, none of them experienced a special feeling of love for their father. And Defoe had already grown old by that time and, pretty tired of hectic life, began to feel the need for a simple family happiness. Probably, it was here that a certain turning point happened in the life of Daniel Defoe: he seemed to realize that his time was running out, and the main happiness of life was irretrievably lost. At the same time, a new literary Defoe was born - not a daring pamphleteer-provocateur, but a sensitive, infinitely touching psychologist who describes his own tragedy of loneliness. “I clearly felt how much my present life, with all its sufferings and hardships, is happier than the shameful, sinful, disgusting life that I led before. Everything in me has changed, now I understood grief and joy in a completely different way, my desires were not the same, passions have lost their sharpness, ”the writer admitted through the mouth of Robinson.

The last years of Defoe's life were spent in illness and loneliness. Sometimes the writer had to hide from creditors and deceived publishers, wandering around rented London apartments. When the writer died, even his relatives did not know about the fact of Defoe's death. It is believed that Defoe's death was caused by a lethargic fit. Defoe's funeral was organized by the hostess of the house, where Daniel was staying at that time. To reimburse the cost of burial, she had to sell some of the writer's personal belongings. Several mocking obituaries dedicated to the death of Daniel Defoe, and Defoe's grave in London's Bunhill Fields Cemetery was covered with a simple tombstone, which soon became overgrown with grass and became invisible. And only more than a hundred years later, a granite monument to the memory of Defoe was opened at the burial site of the writer.

life line

1660 Daniel Defoe's year of birth.
1673 Admission to the non-conformist academy in London.
1683 Opening your own haberdashery store.
1684 Marriage to Mary Tuffley.
1685 Participation in the rebellion against King James II.
1692 Bankruptcy and temporary suspension of commercial activities.
1701 Exit first satirical poem Defoe. The beginning of a literary career.
1703 Imprisonment sentence for impudent criticism of royalty.
1719 Publication of the famous novel by Daniel Defoe - "Robinson Crusoe".
April 24, 1731 Date of death of Daniel Defoe.

Memorable places

1. Cripplegate area in London, where Daniel Defoe was born.
2. Stoke Newington in London, where Defoe studied at the seminary.
3. Westonsoyland, where the writer participated in the famous battle of Sedgemoor.
4. Moorfields area in London, where Daniel Defoe died.
5. Cemetery at Bunhill Fields in London, where Defoe is buried.
6. Monument to Robinson Crusoe - the main literary hero Defoe is in Tobolsk.
7. Easter Island (Chile), where a monument to Robinson Crusoe is erected.

Episodes of life

The publication of a novel about Robinson Crusoe provided Defoe with authority in literary world. So, Leo Tolstoy himself translated the book into Russian. In the modern world, Daniel Defoe is recognized as one of the founders of the novel as a genre, and his hero, Robinson, is put on a par with Faust and Don Quixote.

For the pamphlet "The shortest way to deal with sectarians" Defoe was sentenced to prison term and pillory. AT this work the writer reduced the arguments of the ruling church to absurdity, for which, in fact, he was punished. Note that the “shameful punishment” was extremely insulting, since a person chained to a pole could be mocked in any way. But in the case of Daniel, everything happened the other way around. The aristocracy, inspired by the hot satire, gathered at the pillar and showered the writer with flowers from head to toe.

Covenant

"It's never too late to be smart."

A film about Daniel Defoe from the series of programs "Project Encyclopedia"

condolences

"In the person of Daniel Defoe - a talented publicist, journalist, writer, initiator of the novel of modern times - education in England at its early stage found one of its brightest representatives."
Larisa Sidorchenko, writer

“Defoe endows Robinson with his thoughts, putting enlightening views into his mouth. Robinson expresses ideas of religious tolerance, he is freedom-loving and humane, hates wars, condemns the cruelty of the extermination of the natives living on the lands seized by the white colonialists. Finally, he is passionate about his work. Depicting the labor exploits of Robinson, Defoe expresses an unshakable faith in man, which was characteristic of the enlighteners.
Elena Kornilova, writer

“It is impossible to do without reading good books: they help our education, develop our mind and ennoble our soul and heart. There is one book that, in my opinion, is the best treatise on education ... What is this wonderful book? Ariosto, Pliny or Buffon? No, it's Robinson Crusoe!"
Jean Jacques Rousseau, philosopher

Name: Daniel Defoe

Date of Birth: 1661

Age: 70 years old

Activity: writer, publicist

Family status: was married

Daniel Defoe: biography

Daniel Defoe has been called the first British writer to popularize the genre of the novel. A brilliant publicist and prolific writer, he presented readers with half a thousand books, articles, pamphlets, in which he touched on a wide range of topics. Defoe wrote about politics, religion, economics, psychology, and the supernatural.

He became the founder of economic journalism and propagandist of bourgeois sanity. He fought for freedom of speech and religious self-determination. But the main thing is that Daniel Defoe gave mankind a fascinating novel about, based on which dozens of novels and stories were written, films and TV shows were made.

Childhood and youth

The exact date of Defoe's birth is unknown. The future novelist appeared in the London area of ​​​​Cripplegate around 1660 in the family of a wealthy meat merchant and the owner of a candle factory. The parents of Daniel Fo - this is the real name of the writer - were adherents of Presbyterianism, a Protestant direction based on the teachings of John Calvin.

Parents saw their son in the future as a Presbyterian pastor, so at the age of 14 they were assigned to a theological seminary. After graduating from it, Fo entered the Protestant Academy in Stoke Newington. The young man excelled in classical literature, knew Latin and Greek excellently, but he was not going to become a pastor: Daniel was attracted by commerce and trading.


After graduating from the academy, Daniel Defoe, on the advice of his father, got a job in the office of a hosiery company that traded with foreign suppliers. 19-year-old Daniel mastered the basics of accounting in the office and at the same time worked as a clerk in a stocking shop.

In the mid-1680s, Defoe considered that he had learned everything, and went into business: he opened a hosiery company in Cornhill, which worked successfully for 10 years. Then the businessman mastered new directions: he traded in wine, tobacco products and building materials.

Expanding his business, he traveled to France, visited Portugal and Spain. On long business trips, Daniel Defoe got acquainted with the life of Europe, studied the customs and languages ​​of the population.


Contemporaries described the Briton as a risky businessman who embarked on dubious ventures and repeatedly found himself on the verge of ruin. But each time, Defoe found solutions to help return the money.

In addition to business, the British were interested in political and religious affairs. In the mid-1680s, the future novelist participated in the uprising of the Duke of Monmouth, who opposed the policies of the last British Catholic king, James VII. The authorities put down the rebellion and executed Monmouth. Daniel Defoe hid from his pursuers and miraculously escaped punishment.

Literature

The beginning of the creative biography of the English prose writer is called 1697, when Daniel Defoe wrote the first work, called "Experience on Projects".

The name of the Briton thundered in his homeland 2 years later, after the publication of a satirical pamphlet in verse "Pure-blooded Englishman", in which he ridiculed xenophobia. The reason for writing the pamphlet was the attacks on foreigners in general and King William of Orange in particular. Defoe fiercely defended the reforms of the liberals and the revolution, he had an army of admirers and enemies.


The writer invented a noble origin, a family coat of arms with three griffins and lilies, as well as Norman roots, adding the “de” particle to the common surname. Soon "Mr. De Foe" merged into one word.

In 1702, the author composed a new pamphlet called " The simplest way deal with dissenters. At first, the parliamentarians, whom the author advised to crack down on the Protestants by linking to galleys and hanging on poles, were delighted, but soon realized the catch: the author mocked them.

Researchers of Defoe's work called the work the literary event of the century. The text made so much noise that the pamphleteer was put on the wanted list. Six months later, he was arrested, fined and sentenced to pillory.


Medieval punishment was painful: street onlookers and lackeys had the right to mock the convict. But Daniel Defoe, unexpectedly for the authorities, was showered with flowers, and the pamphlet “Hymn to the Pillory” written by him in the dungeons was sung by the crowd in the squares and streets.

The debt-ridden writer was offered secret work to the British government. "Agent of influence" undertook to show the work of power in a favorable light. And Defoe was also made a secret agent in Scotland, forcing him to spy and inform the British government about the activities of the opposition and to influence the mentality of the Scots through publications.


After the publicist agreed to the conditions put forward, a fine was paid for him from the royal treasury, and the Defoe family, which was on the verge of starvation, was given money. The pages of the Observer, a newspaper sponsored by the British authorities, became the place where the articles of the popular satirist appeared.

It is unlikely that contemporaries would have known about the existence of the publicist Daniel Defoe if the writer had not presented them with a masterpiece, which adults and children adore even today. A novel about a sailor from York, who was shipwrecked on a deserted island, was first published in 1719.

The 59-year-old author came up with the idea of ​​a work about Robinson Crusoe after reading a story about a Scottish sailor Alexander Selkirk, who lived on a desert island washed by the waves of the Pacific Ocean for 4 years. The lost sailor was discovered by the ship's captain, Woods Rogers. He wrote the book that caught the eye of Defoe.


Then came a sketch of Selkirk's adventures, sparking even more interest in the character. Daniel Defoe played the story of a hermit, supplemented it with fictitious details and turned it into a fascinating novel that captivated millions of readers on the planet. His hero Robinson Crusoe lived on the island for 28 years.

The success of the book was overwhelming, and the author wrote a sequel. It turned out to be less exciting than the first, but also attracted the attention of millions of readers. The writer "settled" the hero in Great Tataria - a fictional country, which refers to Russia, Mongolia and Tatarstan.

The second book-sequel was followed by the third - like the second, not comparable in reader success to the first novel.


When asked whether the British novelist has been to Russia (in the second book about the adventures of Crusoe, he describes Siberia, Arkhangelsk), the researchers claim that he has not been. The writer knew about the Russian tsars by hearsay. In Russia, Defoe's admirers appeared 100 years after the publication of the novel: only in the second half of the 19th century was a mass reader born in the country.

Peru of the writer and publicist, often signed by Charles Johnson, owns 500 works. In the mid-1720s he published a book, A General History of Piracy. In the same years, four novels appeared, including The Joys and Sorrows of Mole Flanders and The Diary of a Plague Year. At the same time, Daniel Defoe also wrote works on trade.

In 1726, the admirers of the novelist were delighted with a new book - the novel Travels in England and Scotland. The novels of the British were dominated by historical and adventure themes.

Personal life

The writer married in 1684. He married his compatriot Mary Tuffley, a girl with a rich dowry. After 8 years, almost 4 thousand pounds sterling, Mary, as well as the savings of the merchant, were swallowed up by bankruptcy.

The wife bore her husband eight children. The life of the family was overshadowed by the persecution of the authorities and creditors. Defoe lived in the criminal quarter of Mint, where London criminals lived, then in Bristol. Daniel Defoe left the house only on Sundays - these days it was forbidden to arrest debtors.

Death

The world famous novelist was dying alone. The publisher deceived by him pursued Defoe and turned the last year of his life into hell. Hiding from his pursuer, Daniel Defoe left his family, moved from city to city, and when the publisher overtook him and tried to pierce him with a sword, the 70-year-old writer disarmed the enemy.

Mad with fear and constant threats, Defoe hid under false names, renting apartments and rooms. In 1731, the writer rented a dwelling in a remote area of ​​London, where he died at the end of April. There was no wife or eight offspring nearby. The sons went away on business, the daughters got married and started families. There was no one to look for his father in the slums of London.


The cause of the novelist's death is said to be a fit of lethargy. The owner of the apartment took care of organizing the funeral, and then, in order to reimburse the expenses, she took the remaining belongings of the deceased tenant to the auction. The newspapers responded to the death of the novelist with short obituaries, many ironic, calling Defoe "the greatest citizen of the Republic of Grub Street" - a famous street in London where writers of low rank gathered.

A white slab appeared on the grave of the writer and publicist, soon overgrown with grass. But a century later, in 1870, a British tabloid turned to the boys and girls of the country to donate money for a monument to Daniel Defoe - a century-old slab was shattered by a lightning strike. Thousands of fans responded. A granite monument appeared on the grave with the words carved: “In memory of the author of Robinson Crusoe.”

Bibliography

  • 1719 - "Robinson Crusoe"
  • 1719 - "The Further Adventures of Robinson Crusoe"
  • 1720 - "King of Pirates"
  • 1720 - "The Life and Pirate Adventures of the Glorious Captain Singleton"
  • 1720 - "Memoirs of a gentleman
  • 1722 - "Diary of the Plague Year"
  • 1722 - "The joys and sorrows of the famous Moll Flanders"
  • 1722 - "The Story of Colonel Jack"
  • 1724 - "The Happy Courtesan, or Roxana"
  • 1724 - "A General History of Piracy"
  • 1726 - "The Story of the Devil"

Daniel Dafoe was born in 1660 in London to a wealthy meat merchant, James Fo. Famous for adventure novel"Robinson Crusoe", passed the big life path, tried his hand at entrepreneurship, journalism and even politics. The pseudonym Defoe (Daniel Defoe) the writer took as an adult.

In 1666, a terrible fire broke out in the city. The fire destroyed the church and the parish book with the birth record stored in it, so the exact date is unknown. When the boy was 8 years old, his mother died.

The father saw his son as a minister of the Presbyterian church, so the future writer went to study at a school that trained clergy and even graduated from the academy. During his studies, he was interested in classical literature, studied several foreign languages. Some believe that Defoe spoke Russian, although he had never been to Russia. Already at school, the young man was engaged in composing poems on religious topics. However, he was not destined to become a minister of the church - the idea to engage in trade attracted more.

Daniel was an adventurer and traveled a lot. Cases related to trading activities, allowed him to often visit Spain, Portugal and France, where he had the opportunity to hone his knowledge in languages.

It is known that the writer was found by Algerian pirates, whom he met on his way to Holland. Having received a ransom for him, the pirates quickly released him. According to other sources, Defoe freed the British patrol frigate.

In 1684, Daniel received a rich dowry by marrying Mary Tuffley. Mary and Daniel gave birth to eight children. With the money received as a dowry, the family could lead a comfortable existence, however, in 1692, bankruptcy swallowed up the entire fortune. According to Defoe, he got rich and went bankrupt 12 times, but he never managed to cope with this commercial failure.

The first poem "A Thoroughbred Englishman" was published in 1701. Society reacted very controversially to the poem, but King William III highly appreciated the composition. The death of the monarch led to a hurricane of attacks from all sides.

The church reacted painfully to the release of the opus "How to short-circuit those who believe differently." In 1703, Defoe stood at the pillory three times and paid a rather large monetary fine. The punishment did not cause moral harm, but the reputation of the merchant was seriously damaged.

For masterful speeches, Defoe went to prison, from where he soon got out, thanks to the patronage of Minister Robert Harley.

Passion for prose came to D. Defoe in 1719. The first work that came out of the pen was the book "Life and amazing Adventures Robinson Crusoe."

In 1720, Notes of a Cavalier and Captain Singleton appeared.

In 1724, the writer finishes work on Roxana.

No less significant works: "Journey through the whole island of Great Britain", "General History of Piracy", "The Perfect English Merchant" and "Marine Trade Atlas".

Biography 2

Daniel was born in 1661 in the Cripplegate area of ​​London. The family of the future novelist was not from the poor - his father was engaged in the meat trade. Relatives saw for the boy a career as a pastor. Therefore, having reached the age of 14, Daniel began his studies at the theological seminary. After graduating from the seminary, Daniel enters the Protestant Academy. But the young man himself never saw himself as a pastor. He was attracted by commerce and trade. By the age of 20, Daniel opens his first business, which brought him profit for 10 whole years. It was a hosiery company. After that, he was engaged in the trade of wine, building materials, as well as tobacco and tobacco products, doing business not only at home, but also in some European countries.

Daniel was actively interested in politics. He also gained fame in the world of literature for his writings on politics and the public after 1699. Along with fame came both supporters and hostile critics. The politically oriented work of Daniel Defoe once led him to be arrested and sentenced to the pillory. This punishment was supposed to lead to mockery and shame, but it worked in reverse side. The writer was praised and showered with flowers, the crowd sang the "Hymn to the Pillory" written by him.

Later, the writer was offered to secretly work for the government, and was also made a secret agent of Britain in Scotland. The purpose of his work was to inform his government about the activities of the Scottish opposition and to influence public opinion by publishing his writings. In return, the government paid off Daniel's fine and his family's debts, thus saving Daniel, his wife and eight children from starvation.

Later, in 1719, the famous work of the writer was published. "Robinson Crusoe" captivated the reader with the scale of the idea and the fascination of the plot. After the success of the book, Daniel publishes a sequel to the novel, which did not cause such a furore, but also attracted due attention. A third book in the Robinsonade series was also released, but it also did not bring initial success.

The novelist died while on the run, being alone, in 1731. His sons had long gone about their business, and his daughters lived with their families. The mistress of his rented apartment took over the funeral.

Biography by dates and Interesting Facts. The most important.

Other biographies:

  • Alexander I

    Alexander the Blessed - that's what people called him. Glorified in Tolstoy's famous novel "War and Peace", the great emperor left a good memory of himself. Brought up in best traditions French educational school

  • Alexander Vasilievich Kolchak

    Alexander Vasilyevich Kolchak is an extraordinary personality in the history of the Russian state. Born November 16, 1874 in a family of hereditary nobles. Father, a hereditary military man, brought up in his son a deep patriotism for the Fatherland

  • Jean Calvin

    John Calvin was one of the most radical figures of the European Reformation, a French theologian who laid the foundation for a new religious trend in the Protestant Church.

  • George Washington

    George Washington was the first president of the United States of America, who served as head of state from 1789 to 1797.

  • Galileo Galilei

    Galileo Galilei was an astronomer, physicist, mathematician, philosopher and mechanic. He greatly influenced the science of his era and became the first person to use a telescope to observe celestial bodies.

Daniel Defoe is an English politician and famous writer. He was born in 1660 or 1661 in London and died there on April 26, 1731. The son of a butcher Fo, he, like his father, was an ardent dissident - Presbyterian.

In his youth, Daniel abandoned the spiritual career to which he was intended, and engaged in trade in London, traveled on business in France and Spain, but due to his passion for politics and literature, he went bankrupt (c. 1692). He applied his experience in the "Experience on projecting" (printed only 1698). This essay examines the economic and political ills of the time, and at the same time presents detailed plan improving the social order. There are discussions and projects about financial questions, about pauperism, which began to arise precisely at that time, about the need to multiply elementary schools, about the shortcomings of women's education in England - coupled with an energetic appeal in favor of mental emancipation. “This is a work full of bright thoughts and new and fair views,” wrote Benjamin Franklin, - greatly influenced my mind; my whole system of philosophies and morals has changed. The main events of my life and the participation that I took in the revolution of my country were to a very large extent the results of this reading.

Portrait of Daniel Defoe

Another essay by Defoe: "Almsgiving is not charity, but providing work for the poor is a detriment to the nation" - a political and economic treatise with a deep meaning, where the author tries to understand social causes poverty. In general, in the field of reforms, Defoe's writings of this kind preceded everything that England of the eighteenth century had brilliant among its reformers. He threw light on many questions of political economy, higher administration, religious, historical, aesthetic.

In 1701 he wrote for the king Wilhelm III, which he joined as a volunteer immediately after his landing (see Glorious Revolution), the satirical poem "Pure-blooded Englishman" (1701), where he reflected attacks on the king as a foreigner, proving that the British themselves were of mixed race and owe this circumstance many advantages.

When, after the death of Wilhelm, the persecution of dissidents resumed, Defoe wrote an ironic pamphlet on the adherents of the "high church" "The Shortest Path to Reprisal against Dissenters" (1702), where he mockingly "recommended" them, as the most convenient solution to the issue, to exterminate the dissidents without exception, as the French king exterminated Protestants. The author of the caustic satire was soon recognized and sentenced to pillory and imprisonment. But the shameful punishment turned into a triumph (Defoe was showered with flowers), and the conclusion was short.

In prison, Defoe began to write the "Review", which was supposedly compiled from the materials of the "scandal club". The success of this magazine soon gave rise to other moralistic weeklies. Deprived of the earnings due to imprisonment, with which he supported himself and a large family, Defoe was forced in his political writings to maneuver between his conscience and the support of the ministry. During the negotiations for a union between England and Scotland, the government used the services of Defoe as an intermediary, and he solved his problem very skillfully.

The Life and Amazing Adventures of Robinson Crusoe. 1972 film

Immortal Defoe made the essay "The Life and Amazing Adventures of Robinson Crusoe, a sailor from York" (1719). This book, which Rousseau, the champion of the "natural man," praised as a first-class and fascinating work for youth, is a kind of "philosophy of history," which is a picture of the transition from the primitive rude state to the civilized state. The main significance of this work lies in its main idea, which, however, is quite objectively supported by facts: a person transferred to a deserted island must, as it were, recreate the whole culture by itself, with all the stages of its development. As for the purely literary merit of "Robinson", here the author with brilliant success applied in practice that "realism of fantasy", able to make the most improbable plausible, which constitutes his distinctive quality as a novelist, who in England is an innovator along this path.

He relates the strange adventures of his hero as true artist. “Under his hand, the romantic ceases to be a novel; it becomes a real, undoubtedly true story, which we follow step by step with full participation. amazing art with which the author has achieved this irresistible probability of the story lies in the subtlety and naturalness psychological image characters and in extremely animated painting of details. Although the plot of "Robinson" reproduces the real story of A. Selkirk on the island of Juan Fernandez, his idea also contains an autobiographical element: being a secret agent of the government he had recently attacked, Defoe felt himself in deep loneliness and in constant danger. "Robinson" was translated into all European and many non-European languages ​​and even in the 19th century caused many imitations ( Robinsonade).

Daniel Defoe's other horror-adventure novels, partly written after the incredible success of Robinson (for example, Captain Singleton), are almost completely forgotten. My journalistic activity Defoe continued until 1726 under his own name, perfectly describing the life of the then middle and lower classes. Later, he resorted to a pseudonym and fell into a strange fear, apparently a persecution mania. Last days Defoe spent his life in a miserable hut in an inn, due to the fact that his son deceived his trust and completely ruined him and his entire family.

Daniel Defoe (birth name Daniel Fo) – English writer and publicist - was born around 1660 in the Cripplegate area of ​​London in the family of a Presbyterian meat merchant James Fo (1630-1712), received a spiritual education and was preparing to become a pastor, but refused a church career. Engaged in commercial activities. In 1681 began to write poetry on religious themes.

He took part in the rebellion of the Duke of Monmouth against James II Stuart and the battle of Sedgemoor. July 6, 1685 lost by the rebels.

After graduating from Newington Academy where he studied Greek and latin languages and classic literature, became a clerk at a wholesale hosiery merchant. On trade matters he often visited Spain, Portugal and France, where he got acquainted with the life of Europe and improved in languages.

Subsequently, he himself was at one time the owner of a hosiery production and then first the manager, and then the owner of a large brick and tile factory, but went bankrupt. In Defoe there lived the spirit of an entrepreneurial businessman with an adventurous streak - a type common in that era. He was also one of the most active politicians of his time. A talented publicist, pamphleteer and publisher, he, without officially holding any public office, at one time had a great influence on the king and government.

In 1697 wrote his first literary work Project Experience. In 1701 wrote satirical work"The True-Born Englishman", ridiculing xenophobia. For the pamphlet "Shortest Way with the Dissenters" in 1703 was sentenced to pillory and imprisonment. In prison, Defoe continued literary activity, writing "Hymn to the Pillory". In the same year, he was released on the condition that he would carry out secret orders from the government, that is, he would become a spy.

At the age of 59, in 1719, Daniel Defoe published the first and best novel for all of it creative life- “The life and amazing adventures of Robinson Crusoe, a sailor from York, who lived for twenty-eight years all alone on a desert island off the coast of America near the mouth of the Orinoco River, where he was thrown out by a shipwreck, during which the entire crew of the ship except him died; with an account of his unexpected release by pirates, written by himself. We know this work as Robinson Crusoe.

The idea of ​​the novel was suggested to the writer by a real incident: in 1704, a Scottish sailor, Alexander Selkirk, after a quarrel with the captain, landed on an unfamiliar shore with a small supply of provisions and weapons. For more than four years he led a hermitic life, as it turned out, on the island of Juan Fernandez in pacific ocean until he was taken to a ship commanded by Woods Rogers.

Defoe introduces the Enlightenment concept of history through the novel. So, from barbarism (hunting and gathering), Robinson on the island passes to civilization (agriculture, cattle breeding, handicraft, slavery).

In the continuation of the novel about Robinson Crusoe, Defoe described his adventures in Great Tartaria and the states located on its lands - the Chinese and Russian Empires, as well as the life and customs of the peoples inhabiting it - the Chinese, Tatars and Russian (Siberian) Cossacks.

Defoe wrote over 500 books, pamphlets and magazines in different topics(politics, economics, crime, religion, marriage, psychology, supernatural, etc.). He was also the founder of economic journalism. In journalism, he promoted bourgeois sanity, advocated religious tolerance and freedom of speech.

Works by Daniel Defoe:

"Robinson Crusoe" (Robinson Crusoe) - 1719.
"Further Adventures of Robinson Crusoe" (The Farther Adventures of Robinson Crusoe) - 1719.
"The Life and Pirate Adventures of the Glorious Captain Singleton" (Captain Singleton) - 1720.
"Memoirs of a Cavalier" (Memoirs of a Cavalier) - 1720 .
A Journal of the Plague Year - 1722 .
"The joys and sorrows of the famous Moll Flanders" (Moll Flanders) - 1722 .
"The Happy Courtesan, or Roxana" (Roxana: The Fortunate Mistress) - 1724 .
"The King of Pirates" (King of Pirates).
"The Story of Colonel Jack" (Colonel Jack).
"A True Relation of the Apparition of One Mrs. Veal The Next day after Her Death to One Mrs. Bargrave at Canterbury The 8th of September 1705) - 1706.
"The Consolidator or, Memoirs of Sundry Transactions from the World in the Moon" - 1705 .
"Atlantis Major" (Main Atlantis) - 1711 .
"A Tour Thro" The Whole Island of Great Britain, Divided into Circuits or Journies" (Direct tour of the UK) - 1724–1727 .
"The Family Instructor" (The Family of the Instructor).
"The General History of Piracy" (The Pirate Gow) - 1724 .
"The Storm" (Storm).
"A New Voyage round the World" (New trip around the world) – 1725.
The Political History of the Devil - 1726 .
"System of Magic" (Magic System) - 1726 .
The History Of The Remarkable Life of John Sheppard wonderful life John Sheppard) 1724 .
"A Narrative Of All The Robberies, Escapes, &c. of John Sheppard" (The Narrative of All Heists, Escapes) - 1724 .
"The Pirate Gow" (Pirate Go) - 1725 .
"A Friendly Epistle by way of reproof from one of the people called Quakers, to T. B., a dealer in many words" 1715 .
"Conjugal Lewdness" (Matrimonial depravity).
"Serious Reflections of Robinson Crusoe" (Serious reflections of Robinson Crusoe) - 1720 .
"The Complete English Tradesman" (The Complete English Tradesman).
"An Essay Upon Projects" (Essay on projects).
"An Essay Upon Literature" (An Essay on Literature) - 1726.
"Mere Nature Delineated" (Simple differentiation of nature) - 1726.
"A Plan of English Commerce" (Plan of English Trade) - 1728 .
"Essay on the Reality of Apparitions" (Essay on the reality of ghosts) - 1727 .
"The True-Born Englishman" (Pure-blooded Englishman) - 1701 .
"Hymn to the Pillory" (Hymn to the pillory) - 1703 .
Moubray House (Maubray House).

Editor's Choice
Fish is a source of nutrients necessary for the life of the human body. It can be salted, smoked,...

Elements of Eastern symbolism, Mantras, mudras, what do mandalas do? How to work with a mandala? Skillful application of the sound codes of mantras can...

Modern tool Where to start Burning methods Instruction for beginners Decorative wood burning is an art, ...

The formula and algorithm for calculating the specific gravity in percent There is a set (whole), which includes several components (composite ...
Animal husbandry is a branch of agriculture that specializes in breeding domestic animals. The main purpose of the industry is...
Market share of a company How to calculate a company's market share in practice? This question is often asked by beginner marketers. However,...
The first mode (wave) The first wave (1785-1835) formed a technological mode based on new technologies in textile...
§one. General data Recall: sentences are divided into two-part, the grammatical basis of which consists of two main members - ...
The Great Soviet Encyclopedia gives the following definition of the concept of a dialect (from the Greek diblektos - conversation, dialect, dialect) - this is ...