Robinson Crusoe
Defoe`s immensely popular and influential work, published in 1719, tells the story of an English mariner, the sole survivor of a shipwreck, who manages to survive for 28 years on a deserted island in the South Pacific. Defoe`s depiction of the hardships and ingenuities of the castaway are masterly, as is his description of loneliness and isolation. He builds a house, teaches himself to grow corn and barley, and bakes bread. When a band of cannibals invades his island, he drives them away, but rescues one of their prisoners--the faithful Friday--who remains with Crusoe until their eventual rescue and return to England.

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