Robinson Crusoe

Initially believed to be a true account, Robinson Crusoe is often seen as the very first English novel. The narrator offers a compelling account of his shipwreck and stranding on a desert isle. Armed with tools and weapons from the wreck, he methodically works to protect himself and better his chances of survival. As time passes, he farms, hunts and builds a fortified shelter. Troubled by the complete lack of human contact, Crusoe begins to contemplate his life and relation to God. He eventually encounters foes, in the form of cannibals who visit the island, as well as an unexpected ally. Often credited as one of the first examples of literary realism, the novel’s almost documentary tone can be credited for providing much of its enduring appeal. The lucid descriptions of Crusoe’s struggles put the reader in his place with great immediacy and creates wonder as to how well we might fare in the same conditions. This is the quintessential castaway story from which all others spring. Imitated and updated many times since its original appearance in 1719, the novel has been adapted into plays, opera, film, comics, television, radio and cartoons, and it has inspired countless other works in virtually all these media. Subject to steady re-interpretation down the years, Robinson Crusoe has been considered as everything from a political allegory of colonialism to a religious novel of Christian salvation, but through any lens it remains one of the most beloved and engaging novels in English.

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With thousands of titles in our collection, we aim to spotlight diverse public domain works to help them find modern audiences. Mint Editions celebrates a breadth of literary works, curated from both canonical and overlooked classics from writers around the globe.