Daniel Defoe is an English publicist, journalist and pamphleteer best known for his novel Robinson Crusoe. Born 1660 in London, Cripplegate. The writer's father was a merchant and Presbyterian named James Fo. Daniel also bore the surname Fo at birth, but later took the pseudonym Defoe. Initially, he prepared for a career as a pastor, but then refused and entered the Newington Academy, where he studied classical literature and foreign languages.

By nature, Dafoe was an adventurer and adventurer. He often traveled to Western Europe on commercial affairs, participated in political campaigns, although he did not have an official position, and was also an entrepreneur. According to some reports, he was once captured by the Algerian pirates, but was soon released. In 1684, Defoe married a dowry girl named Mary Tuffley. She bore him eight children. Her dowry made it possible for a comfortable existence. However, in 1692 they were ruined due to Defoe's negligence. He signed under the naval insurance obligations, after which he never managed to recover.

The first poem of the writer appeared in 1701 - "Thoroughbred Englishman". It ridiculed prejudices about racial superiority and provoked controversial reactions in society. Soon he wrote a caustic essay, "How to Shorten Disbelievers", which caused a storm of indignation from the high church. In 1703, he was accused of political transgressions and was forced to stand at the pillory and pay a fine. Then he made a revelatory speech, for which he was sent to prison. Soon, thanks to the Speaker of the House of Commons, he was released. Defoe became interested in prose in 1719. It was during this period that the book "The Life and the Amazing Adventures of Robinson Crusoe" was published. And it was followed by "Notes of a Cavalier", "Luck and Misfortune of Moll Flanders", "Captain Singleton", "Maritime Trade Atlas" and other famous works. Daniel Defoe died on April 24, 1731 in London.

The article briefly describes the biography of Daniel Dafoe, a writer and journalist, the founder of the English novel. He became famous for his work about Robinson Crusoe.

Short biography of Daniel Defoe: first steps

Defoe was born in 1660 near London. The boy was sent to study at a theological seminary, which brought him knowledge of classical literature and ancient languages. Further training took place at the Theological Academy. For some time, Defoe even wrote poetry on religious topics. Defoe had the prospect of becoming a priest. But from early childhood he was more attracted to commercial activities.
After completing his studies, Defoe became one of the many businessmen operating in England at that time. He opens his own production, makes numerous business trips to countries - trade partners of England. Defoe was fluent in many European languages. Defoe's sea voyages lead to the fact that he is once briefly captured by pirates. Defoe's adventurous activities followed the fate of many commercial enterprises of that time. In the end, he goes bankrupt as a result of a careless transaction.
Defoe distinguished himself in another field. Active political activity leads him to the camp of the rebels against Jacob II. For a long time he was forced to hide from justice.
The future writer was also prosecuted for his first attempts at literary activity. His pamphlets and satirical poems were sharply directed against existing social vices. He ridiculed Defoe and the noble aristocracy. Ultimately, it was his activity as a publicist denouncing writer that undermined his business reputation and caused bankruptcy. Defoe was imprisoned, from which he was relieved of his future patron - Minister R. Harley, who saw the presence of great talent in the prisoner.

Defoe's biography: journalistic activities

Defoe was employed by the government as an editor and political writer for the Review. Defoe's work in this area has been very productive and has brought him widespread fame. He is considered the founder of political, economic and criminal journalism. The newspapers of his time were busy presenting the facts with dryness. Defoe writes interesting articles that people want to read. He publishes interviews in the newspaper with a wide variety of people, including convicted criminals.
Defoe is engaged in literary activity. Noteworthy is his work "The General History of Pirates", which contains absolutely reliable information.
Robinson Crusoe
While working as a journalist, Dafoe writes the novel that made his name world famous. "Robinson Crusoe" became the embodiment of the then dominant idea of ​​the omnipotence of man and the complete subordination of natural elements to him. The novel was based on the real incident with A. Selkir, who was landed on an uninhabited wreck and spent a long time on it. The fruitful activity of a person who finds himself on an uninhabited island is full of unreal events and is subject to many accidents. But Defoe's merit is that he showed the presence of the limitless possibilities of the human mind. Even in the most difficult conditions, when, it would seem, there is no way to avoid imminent death, his hero finds the strength to continue the struggle for survival.
The fantastic nature of the novel did not in the least affect its artistic value. Moreover, a detailed description of all of Robinson's actions gave the novel great truthfulness and was perceived by many people as true. All researchers of Defoe's work note exceptional realism in the description of the smallest details, bordering on documentary presentation.
Defoe, elated with success, wrote two more parts of Robinson's further adventures, but they practically did not enjoy any success and went unnoticed.
The writer created about 500 more different works. However, they are known only to a narrow circle of specialists in his work. For history, Defoe remains primarily the author of the adventures of Robinson Crusoe. Children and adults around the world are reading this novel.
The writer died in 1731 in England.

Economic journalism in modern Britain was born in the distant years of the second half of the 17th century, when, in 1660, its founder, Daniel Defoe, was born into the family of businessman James Fo.

He bore his father's surname until 1703, and then became a celebrity, who is now remembered every time the legendary figure of a hermit on a desert island appears in sight.

The biography of this popularizer of the genre of the novel in his homeland is ambiguous, starting from childhood. In particular, he is credited with a serious fascination with religion. This was facilitated by the following fact: being a dissenter by religion, James (according to one version he was a meat dealer, according to another - tallow candles) hoped that his son would become a successful Presbyterian pastor.

In this regard, the future star of British publicism and journalism, Daniel became a student of the Theological Seminary of Charles Morton Academy. And his first opuses in the literary field were religious poems.

I must say that the training time was not in vain for Defoe, because he devoted them to the study of classical literature, Latin and Greek. It would seem that nothing foreshadowed dramatic changes in his fate for him.

However, perhaps it was then that thoughts of becoming a merchant, sailor, journalist, politician and even a spy arose in the young head of the future author of Robinsonade. At least, it was still very far from the path of writing. Yes, and Daniel became them at the end of the sixth decade, at the age of 59!

Commerce

Be that as it may, but after leaving the academy, he came to grips with the development of commercial activities. His first specialty in the trade was a clerk in the service of a hosiery. Perhaps it was this experience that became fundamental for Defoe for the rest of his life.

After all, on business, he happened to be in Spain, Portugal, France and Italy. And in the future, his biography was replenished with his own hosiery production, as well as the management and ownership of a brick and tile factory.

However, this was not surprising. In Britain at that time, the profession of an entrepreneur was as popular as in Russia in the 90s of the XX century. Just like for many of his fellow countrymen, his own business for the future classic of the novel genre ended in failure.

There are many legends about these years in the fate of Daniel. In addition to the fact that Spain became for him then a place of constant trade, there is the fact of his capture by Algerian pirates in 1685, when he was going to Holland. Soon, the future creator Robinson was redeemed, and he settled down, profitably taking Mary Tuffley as his wife.

Eight children were born in their family. This period in Dafoe's life was the most commercially successful. Eventually, however, Mary's large dowry and his own savings came to an end in total bankruptcy.

It may well be that, if he did not become a writer, Daniel Defoe was quite able to realize himself as a businessman. But, having become bankrupt, he abruptly turned his fate into a different plane, without breaking away, however, from the entrepreneurial community. A lover of a bright and eventful life, he remained true to himself even after the financial collapse that befell him.

Politics...

Changing business to politics, Daniel continued his religious experiences in the literary field with pamphlets and satirical poems. At the same time, having appeared among the persons dissatisfied with the policy imposed on Britain by King James II Stuart, Defoe subsequently hid from persecution for a long time so as not to end up behind bars.

At the same time, he began to develop his prosaic talents with treatises on entrepreneurship.

1701 was a turning point in his life. It was then that his famous "Purebred Englishman" was born. The incredibly popular pamphlet sold on the streets of London, so well that people immediately bought 80 thousand copies of it.

In this work, the author defends against the attacks of the reigning William III, who built his policy on supporting the interests of the bourgeois. For this, the king was disliked by the aristocrats, who believed that a foreigner who spoke poor English could not be trusted to rule Britain.

Having courageously sided with William III, the pamphleteer stigmatizes the aristocrats, calling from the ancient ancestors Norman pirates, and the new ones - French lackeys, hairdressers and tutors. For a short time, this bold step allowed the novice writer Defoe to get close to the king and win his complete confidence.

However, this enterprise turned out to be, in the end, unprofitable: the king died, and for his civic courage and entrepreneurial resourcefulness, Defoe, by decision of the new authorities, was fined a gigantic sum and sentenced to standing at the pillar of shame, followed by seven years in prison.

This medieval type of punishment was doubly painful, since anyone passing by could deal with him, serving a shameful duty, at his own discretion. However, Londoners showered flowers on the bold pamphleteer.

In 1702, Daniel shares with his readers "The shortest way to deal with sectarians." The church and the aristocracy, against whom the criticism was directed in this work, still manages to achieve a trial of the talented writer.

However, before going to jail, Daniel manages to give satirical praise to "The Hymn to the Pillar of Shame." Perhaps he would have been in prison for the rest of his days, but the Speaker of the House of Commons R. Harley petitioned for his release in the same year.

... and literature

From this time begins Defoe's public service as editor of the Rivue (1704-1713) and, accordingly, the author of comments in this publication, which consolidated his fame as a born politician.

All this time he did not stop creating as a writer. 1719 was the year of birth of "Robinson Crusoe", to the continuation of which Daniel returned twice more.

He became the parent of Captain Singleton and Roxanne, Captain Jack and Molly Flanders, but it was Robinson who became his calling card for all time. It is interesting that the basis of this incredible, especially for those times, novel is the most real.

The image of Robinson was copied from the Scottish sailor Alexander Selkirk, who lived until 1721, who for 4 years and 4 months was forced to fight alone for his life on Mas a Tierra (now this island bears the name of the literary double of its former inhabitant).

Defoe died in the capital of England on April 24, 1731, leaving behind a rich legacy. Until now, grateful Britons will learn how much their legendary compatriot has done for his country.

It is known that the writer was born in 1660 in London in the family of a butcher. His father wanted to see him as a pastor (the family was privatorian), and the future writer even studied at a theological seminary, but, for some unknown reason, he had to give up his spiritual career and Daniel, like his father, took up trade.

In 1681, he began to write poetry on religious topics. In 1685 he took part in the Monmouth uprising against James II Stuart, then entered the Newington Academy, where he studied Greek and Latin, and after graduation he again took up trade and traveled a lot across Europe, studying languages, absorbing the way of life and customs of people.

Trader, writer, spy

In 1697 he wrote his first major literary work and scientific treatise, then published several satirical works in which he ridiculed xenophobia. For one of them he was even sentenced to a pillory and imprisonment. After a while, he was released and continued to engage in business.

It is known that Dafoe was not only engaged in trade, but also spied for the English king; some even believe that for some time he was the head of the "intelligence service" of Britain (he was not officially in the public service, but had a huge influence on the king and the government, they listened to his opinion; most likely, he was released from prison only because he was taken from him promises to start actively spying for the benefit of the state).

In 1719 Defoe wrote and published his best novel, Robinson Crusoe. He took real events that took place in 1704 as a basis. This novel is not only about the simple survival of man in the wild, this novel is a hymn to civilization and a kind of retrospective of the path taken by mankind: from barbarism (gathering and hunting) to progress (agriculture, cattle breeding, craft).

Other biography options

• In 1724, a writer under the pseudonym Charles Johnson published a work called A General History of Piracy (first published in Russia in 1999). This is an incredibly interesting piece based on documents kept by the British Colony Ministry. This book contains the most reliable description of the life and adventures of such pirates as Bartholomew Roberts, Blackbeard, Steed Bonnet, John Rackham.
• Few people know that Daniel Dafoe wrote the sequel to Captain Crusoe's adventures. Moreover, the action of the continuation novel takes place in the so-called Great Tataria (modern Russia, Mongolia and Tatarstan). The author not only describes the nature of Great Tartary, but also tries to reveal in his work the history, life, customs of the peoples inhabiting it (Russians, Siberian Cossacks, Tatars, Mongols, Chinese).
• A short biography of Daniel Defoe is usually studied in grade 5, when in literature lessons they get acquainted with such a work as "Robinson Crusoe".
• Defoe, known to most readers as the author of the novel "Robinson Crusoe", wrote a large number of a wide variety of works (some experts have more than 500): pamphlets and scientific essays, novels to satirical stories, poems and essays in the first person. The writer is considered the founder of such a direction as economic journalism.
• It is known that in his publicistic works, Defoe promoted religious tolerance, freedom of speech and bourgeois sanity, which was extremely unusual for that time.

English literature

Daniel Defoe

Biography

DEFOE, DANIEL (Defoe, Daniel) (1660-1731), English writer. Born in London in 1600 to James Fo, a tallow merchant and dissenter. Around 1703 Daniel changed his surname to Defoe. He studied at the J. Fisher School in Dorking, then at the Charles Morton Academy in Stoke Newington, which trained pastors for the Presbyterian Church. In 1681 he began to compose religious poetry, but soon became involved in commercial activities. For some time he traded in Spain, traveled a lot in Western Europe. It is known that (until 1685) on the way between Harwich and Holland, he was captured by the Algerian pirates, but soon he was allegedly ransomed. In 1684, Defoe married Mary Tuffley, who bore him eight children. His wife brought a dowry of 3700 pounds, and for some time he could be considered a relatively wealthy man, but in 1692 both his wife's dowry and his own savings were swallowed up by bankruptcy, which took away 17 thousand pounds. From such a commercial failure, which happened due to the fact that Defoe had the imprudence to subscribe to the naval insurance obligations for the period of the war with France, he never managed to recover.

In 1701, Dafoe wrote a poem The True-Born Englishman, ridiculing notions of racial superiority, and King William III considered this a valuable service, but the monarch died a year later and Dafoe was attacked from all sides. The Tories blamed him for advising the king to dissolve the pro-French parliament, zealous adherents of the high church were stung by ridicule in his caustic essay Shortest Way with the Dissenters (1702), and the judges of the city government of London, before whom he appeared on charges of political sins , he turned against himself by exposing their personal vices. Ultimately, according to the verdict announced in July 1703, he had to stand at the pillory three times, pay a huge fine and find guarantors in his exemplary behavior for seven years, and until the execution of the sentence he was to remain in prison. Although Dafoe's pillory turned into a show of enthusiastic support, his reputation suffered and the thriving shingles business fell into disarray during his time in prison. He could have remained in prison until the end of his days, if not for the intervention of the Speaker of the House of Commons R. Harley, who knew the price of Defoe the journalist. In November 1703, Harley secured Defoe's release, and then got him into the civil service. Dafoe began editing the Review, a periodical from 1704 to 1713, most often every three weeks. Of all Defoe's political writings, his comments in Rivue are best known. From 1691 to 1730, books, pamphlets, poems by Defoe were published almost in a continuous stream, and his speeches in support of the government were heard. In 1719, without stopping active journalistic work, Defoe began to engage in prose. Following the Life and Strange Surprising Adventures of Robinson Crusoe (1719), the Memoires of a Cavalier (1720), Captain Singleton (1720), The Fortunes and Misfortunes of Moll Flanders, 1722), A Journal of the Plague Year, 1722, The History of Colonel Jack (1722) and Roxana (1724). He also wrote such important works as A Tour Through the Whole Island of Great Britain, 1724-1727, A General History of the Pirates, 1724-1728, The perfect English merchant ( The Complete English Tradesman, 1725-1727) and the Maritime Trade Atlas (Atlas Maritimus et Commercialis, 1728). Defoe died in London on April 26, 1731. Robinson Crusoe's novel was first published in 1719, and then two sequels appeared. In Life and Amazing Adventures (only this part of the trilogy has won enduring success among readers), Crusoe talks about how he ran away from home to become a sailor, how he was captured by the Barbary pirates, how his ship was wrecked and thrown onto a desert island off the coast of Venezuela, where he saved savage Friday from cannibals. In Further Adventures (Farther Adventures, 1719) Crusoe returns to his island and travels around Africa and Asia. Serious Reflections (1720) were written for the sake of acquainting the public with the thoughts of Crusoe, which he indulged in alone. The description of Crusoe's life on an uninhabited island, unique for all world fiction, was partly based on the case of A. Selkirk, landed on one of the uninhabited islands of the Juan Fernandez archipelago (1704-1709), partly on the stories about the capture of R. Knox in Ceylon (1660-1680), but above all this is a story about the struggle of man with nature. Crusoe, bit by bit, builds up civilization from the material at hand. Moll Flanders' novel was first published in 1722. Moll recounts her life from her birth in Newgate Prison and then tells how she became a maid in Colchester, how she was seduced, how she was married five times, how she was a pickpocket and a prostitute, how she managed to escape from the gallows by agreeing to be exiled to Virginia, and about her last husband, with whom she was happily living out her life in England. Moll Flanders informs the reader of the truth of life, not sweetened by sentimentality, and the presentation is so detailed that the book was cited as a documentary source.

Daniel Defoe (1660−1731) was born in London to the family of a merchant. His real name is Fo. He graduated from the J. Fisher School in Dorking, then studied at the Charles Morton Academy in Stoke Newington as a pastor of the Presbyterian Church. In 1681 he began to write religious poetry, but, in the end, gave preference to trade. For some time he was engaged in commercial activities in Spain, traveled all over Western Europe.

In 1684, Defoe married Mary Tuffley. They had eight children. His wife's dowry made him a well-to-do man, but in 1692 he went bankrupt.

In 1701, Dafoe wrote a pamphlet "Purebred Englishman", in which he ridiculed English nationalist prejudices and defended King William, a Dutchman. For this, he earned the special favor of the monarch, who, however, died a year later, and Defoe was brought to trial for political sins and was imprisoned. He could have spent the rest of his life in prison if not for the intercession of the Speaker of the House of Commons R. Harley. Defoe was released in November 1703 and was promoted to editor at the periodical Rivue. Of all Defoe's writings on politics, his commentaries in the Rivue are the best known.

In 1719, while continuing to actively engage in journalistic work, Defoe tried his hand at prose. In 1719 he wrote The Life and the Amazing Adventures of Robinson Crusoe and two of its sequels, and then 14 more novels. Defoe died on April 26, 1731 in London.

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