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Robinson Crusoe by Daniel Defoe
Dec. 1st, 2007 07:30 pmThe Blurb On The Back:
The sole survivor of a shipwreck, Robinson Crusoe is washed up on a desert island. In his journal he chronicles his daily battle to stay alive, as he conquers isolation, fashions shelter and clothes, first encounters another human being and fights off cannibals and mutineers. With Robinson Crusoe, Defoe wrote what is regarded as the first English novel, and created one of the most popular and enduring myths of literature. Written in an age of exploration and enterprise, it has been variously interpreted as an embodiment of British imperialist values, as a portrayal of "natural man" or as a moral fable. But above all it is a brilliant narrative, depicting Crusoe's transformation from terrified survivor to self-sufficient master of his island.
( The Review (Cut For Spoilers): )
The Verdict:
It is a book of its time, which means you have to take it as you find it (complete with uneven pacing, constant musing about God and unacceptable attitudes towards people who aren't white). I also think that it should be read simply so that you can see what the childrens' versions take out. However, it is a difficult read and can be tedious at times - although you'll learn a lot about making pots and capturing goats.
The sole survivor of a shipwreck, Robinson Crusoe is washed up on a desert island. In his journal he chronicles his daily battle to stay alive, as he conquers isolation, fashions shelter and clothes, first encounters another human being and fights off cannibals and mutineers. With Robinson Crusoe, Defoe wrote what is regarded as the first English novel, and created one of the most popular and enduring myths of literature. Written in an age of exploration and enterprise, it has been variously interpreted as an embodiment of British imperialist values, as a portrayal of "natural man" or as a moral fable. But above all it is a brilliant narrative, depicting Crusoe's transformation from terrified survivor to self-sufficient master of his island.
( The Review (Cut For Spoilers): )
The Verdict:
It is a book of its time, which means you have to take it as you find it (complete with uneven pacing, constant musing about God and unacceptable attitudes towards people who aren't white). I also think that it should be read simply so that you can see what the childrens' versions take out. However, it is a difficult read and can be tedious at times - although you'll learn a lot about making pots and capturing goats.
