Biography of Daniel Defoe - the author of "Robinson Crusoe"

Sometimes it happens that due to certain circumstances, we look forward to Friday. The same thing did the hero of the magnificent book of Daniel Defoe - Robinson Crusoe. He was waiting for Friday. Perhaps this book is one of the few works that fall into the reader's soul from the first pages.

In this article, we will briefly describe what was the biography of Daniel Defoe, the creator of the beloved work. Historians disagree: when the famous writer was born . In view of the absence of any documents that accurately confirm this information, it is generally accepted that Defoe was born around 1660. It was in the middle of the 17th century in London that a little wealthy meat merchant was born in the family of a small Daniel. From early childhood he had a strong desire for reading, which could not but puzzle his parents. Mother and father hoped that their son would become a priest or, at worst, continue the family business. But fate decreed otherwise.

The early biography of Daniel Defoe is full of vivid events: here is the Puritan spiritual academy, and attempts to write poetry on religious themes, and even accounting craft in a hosiery. At the age of 25 (in 1685), a young man begins a career as a merchant. Wine and tobacco, stockings and building materials - thanks to the gift of persuasion Defoe had a wide clientele not only in England, but also abroad. However, each take-off followed a precipitous fall. His financial well-being was always replaced by failure. Later the writer will say that thirty times he became incredibly rich, and as many times absolutely poor.

In the same year, the biography of Daniel Defoe could be cut short: participating in a riot against the political moves of King James II Stewart, he was in the camp of the vanquished, and he should have decorated himself with the scaffold. However, this did not happen, and due to unknown circumstances (whether the pardon was pardoned or he simply escaped) the author of "Robinson Crusoe" remained alive.

Rebel by nature, the writer Daniel Defoe passionately plunged into heated political battles. Supporting the new ruler Wilhelm of Orange - a Dutchman by origin - the Englishman became an entourage of the throne. However, his religious views, stated in the work "The surest means to get rid of dissenters" did not find a response from the next ruling force, which was Anna Stewart. And again, by a lucky chance, the rebel was released from custody.

After coming to the throne of the Hanover House, Defoe again becomes involved in political strife. Once in prison, the writer decides to leave a deadly battle with politicians and become an ordinary citizen. It was after leaving the places of confinement that Daniel wrote his first great work "Life and the incredible adventures of Robinson Crusoe." The unprecedented fame of this masterpiece is growing rapidly. The new book is snatched from the counter like hot pies. An interesting fact is that on the cover of the first copies of the novel there was not indicated the author's name : the writer was afraid that his "glory" of a political fighter might be fatal for the work.

At that time, as you know, there was no such thing as a photo. Daniel Defoe was sealed with oil on linen canvases and engravings of famous, and not very, artists of that time. Many of these works have survived to our time.

Biography of Daniel Defoe has a seventy-year history. It is noteworthy that although the number of works of the writer varies within four hundred, the author could not write anything better than "Robinson Crusoe". One of his valuable works is the three-volume work "Traveling England and Scotland".

The founder of the well-known and beloved book about the wanderer on the island died in 1731, far from home, his wife and eight children-he was forced to flee from debts and a debt prison.