Daniel Defoe

Daniel Defoe, The Adventures of Robinson Crusoe

Robinson Crusoe is an English man from the town of York who is the youngest son of a merchant of German origin. His parents wish him to study law and would like to see him as a great lawyer but Crusoe has some other plan. He shows his wish to go to sea, but his family, especially his father is against his wish. His father tries to convince him to give up his dream to go to sea but Crusoe is determined. He sets out his sea voyage to London with his friend. At the mean time Crusoe and his friend have narrow escape in the storm. Because of this his friend refuses to go further and returns home, but Crusoe still goes on so as to become a sea merchant. The trip is successful in terms of finance and he plans another voyage, leaving his earning in the care of a friendly widow. At this time his ship is seized by Moorish pirates and he is made a slave in the North African town of Sallee. One day while fishing, he and another slave named Xury escape and sail down to the African coast. One Portuguese captain helps them: he buys Xury from Crusoe and takes him to Brazil. In Brazil he starts plantation and earns a good fortune from it. Knowing the economic advantage of slave trade, he goes to West Africa but unfortunately gets shipwrecked.