Robinson Crusoe

I bought four other books the same time I bought this one, and I saved this one for last because I was the least excited about it. I thought it could potentially be similar to the book Treasure Island, which I found to be quite mediocre. But the price was right, so I figured I'd give it a shot. And I'd have to say it was definitely well worth reading. But I'm not sure why I liked it so much. Perhaps it was the matter-of-fact writing style, that just kind of tells things the way they are without trying to add any additional suspense buzz-words to events wild enough to stand on their own. That method gives the fictional story more authenticity I think. Great example of showing, not telling. Plus there's a lot of slow build up to certain major events that's enough to keep you interested but not too slow that you forget about what's coming, or you just get tired of waiting. And the author's inclusion of mistakes like the issue with the canoe give it more realism also. So I guess it was just the quality of the prose that drew me in. Great prose can make anything sound good. Even sitting on a deserted island for 20 plus years. And since a good chunk of this book happens in complete solitude, a book format is perfect because books tend to be better about showing what's going on in a character's mind than a movie would be.

The DK Classics series is a great introduction to the a good range of classic books. Having been raised as a purist, I was a bit uncertain about giving abridged versions of the classics to our kids, but re-reading some of the originals reminded me why some of these classics are loosing their shine- becoming historical artifacts, rather than living, engaging stories. Robinson Crusoe is a prime example of this- although it is nearly an icon as a storyline, it was very much a product of it's time & place, and the world has definitely moved on! But with DK's always-excellent sidebars, giving historical perspective and making the text tangible, and a rather good abridgement, the story becomes possible even for youngish readers. Reviewers who have complained about it being long, slow, overly moralistic or religious should have a go at the unabridged version! The best thing about this Robinson Crusoe- as well as The Three Musketeers and The Odyssey from the same series- is that our kids really enjoyed them, and are building a good background in writings that have shaped so much of how we view the world. Perhaps they'll read the originals one day- almost certainly in a literature class- and if so they will start with a good understanding of the work.

Robinson Crusoe by Daniel Defoe is a book I’d read excerpts from, even extensive ones, but I’d just never read the whole book before. To say the least, I was surprised! For one, I was surprised how easy it is to read. It would be great for young men, probably junior high age or high school. It has all the elements that would interest young people. The story begins with a rebellious boy who signs up against his parents’ wishes to sail the seas. He reaps the consequences of his sinfulness and becomes even more rebellious. As God would have it, He teaches Robinson a huge lesson about His grace by allowing him to be the sole survivor of a shipwreck. It’s told in first person and describes how Robinson not only survives, but thrives. He does ingenious things in order to shelter, clothe, and feed himself. He builds an amazing fortress that no one would ever guess was there—even while looking straight at it. And, he finds forgiveness and a very strong Christian faith with a dependence on and love for the Bible. After over twenty years alone on the island, Robinson discovers a single footprint. Later, he watches cannibals. He also ends up saving a man from being eaten. This man becomes his lifelong servant, Friday. Robinson leads him to Christ and he teaches him how to survive on the island. Robinson and Friday have some fights and adventures, eventually leaving the island and going back to England. This is an exciting book, well told. It is strong in its teaching about grace, mercy, and salvation. The elements you might want to discuss with your children are: the use of tobacco and liquors, cannibalism, Robinson's making Friday a servant by saving his life, and killing in self-defense. I believe these are all good discussions that will add to positive parenting. I personally loved Robinson Crusoe and would recommend it to boys especially, but also to many girls. It’s a great old classic and an amazingly forward-thinking book for having been written in 1719. No wonder it’s been translated into many languages and read the world over!

Having last read 'Robinson Crusoe' in a heavily edited edition for children I was surprised about the tedious writing style. It reminds me very much of German author Karl May, whose heros are equally sanctimonious, althouh less willing to ship slaves and indentured women hither and tither. A few examples: Crusoe first becomes a slave himself in Morocco, escapes with the help of an Arab youth and sells him at a profit at the first occasion. Later, the voyage that leads to him being stranded on his island is a (even then illegal) slaving run from Brasil to Africa. Later on he frees some equally stranded Spaniards from the natives and makes a compact with them to escape together - a compact he conveniently forgets when a better plan presents itself, leaving the Spaniards behind. When he finally returns after around 15 years it is not to save them but to claim ownership of his island which they had since settled in. He is gracious enough to let them stay there though, even buying some women from Brasil for them so that entertainment is provided for. Much of this criticism is ahistorical, and the book is interesting at least in that it provides insight into a way of thinking that has become alien to us. As always with the Oxford World Classic's series the book is excellent value for money, with a good introduction, useful notes and a glossary.

Robinson Crusoe é o primeiro romance inglês. Espetacular, porque o heroi de Defoe é um protótipo do colonizador e do livre empreendedorismo no início do século XVIII, o que explica o mundo de hoje, para o bem e para o mal. No romance, que inspirou regras de economia como a da oferta e da procura, Defoe mistura os valores do colonizador com uma boa dose de suspense e aventura. Saboreie!

Good as always in this collection.

There is absolutely no doubt that this is one of the most influential English novels of all times. Not only newer versions of "Robinson Crusoe" were written in great numbers and changed the original slightly, but even some other major novels like "Lord of the Flies" seem to base to a large extent on Defoe's masterpiece. That also goes for movies like "Castaway" with Tom Hanks, although in alters the original immersively. The reading - although re-edited and transfered into modern English - is mostly fluent and straightforward. Some words seem to have a completely changend meaning nowadays and for me as a non-native speaker of English, I confess I sometimes had my difficulties with some words. If the story would be written in the 21st century, the author would probably shorten it a little bit, since some passages are somewhat tedious to read and too detailed for the modern reader. This on my account applies for the middle part of the narrative that could be more suspensful because it seems to lose the thread bit and bit. And it also goes for the main characters repetitive adressing of god and fate all the time (it's a book written three hundred years ago, so this was quite common). Nevertheless, I did not dare to cut a star for the "weaker" middle part of the story since this truly is a English classic and should be read if you are interested in major works of the English language. It is really interesting how modern versions of this narrative changend central points, especially the editions for children did a lot alteration with the character "Friday" who does not really have a clay feet in the original. Having another theme, but also taking place on a deserted island is "Lord of the Flies" from William Golding. This also could be a good reading for you, if you like Defoe's setting here, but it's much more modern in style since written in 1951.

I picked up this Edition of Robinson Crusoe because I’ve been trying to catch up on some of the classics, and while I can see why this book is so influential, the experience was a bit mixed for me overall. About the Story The premise is timeless: a man shipwrecked on a deserted island has to survive and adapt. That part of the story is definitely the most compelling — I found myself genuinely interested in how Crusoe built his shelter, hunted, tamed animals, and made a life for himself. There's a real sense of adventure and ingenuity there, and it’s easy to see how this has inspired so many survival stories since. However, a large portion of the book moves very slowly, especially in the first third. There are long digressions about Crusoe’s earlier voyages, finances, and religious reflections that can feel repetitive. The language is old-fashioned, and while that’s expected in a book from the early 1700s, it made some sections feel like a slog. It’s also worth noting that some themes and attitudes — especially around colonization, race, and religion — are very dated and uncomfortable by today’s standards. While it's important to understand these in context, they may not sit well with modern readers. Pros: The formatting is clean and readable, especially on Kindle. It's free or very affordable, which makes it a low-risk way to explore the book. The X-Ray feature (on Kindle) helps keep track of characters and terms. Cons: There’s no introduction, background information, or notes — which would be really helpful with a text like this. It’s very bare-bones. If you're new to classic literature, a more annotated edition might make for a smoother entry point. Robinson Crusoe is definitely an important literary work, and I’m glad I read it. There are interesting ideas about survival, faith, and human nature, but it’s not the easiest or most engaging read all the way through. This edition gets the job done if you just want the core text, but don’t expect any extras to help guide the experience. Solid, but not standout.

Read this book in my school library and got a chance to read it again after 8+ years. BRINGS BACK MEMORIES. VERY GOOD STORY. YOU WILL DEFINATELY FIND IT INTERESTING.