The Political Works of Daniel Defoe (eBook)

Daniel Defoe (c. 1660 – 24 April 1731) was an English writer, journalist, and spy, now most famous for his novel 'Robinson Crusoe.' Defoe is notable for being one of the earlier practitioners of the novel, and he helped popularize the genre in Britain. In his time, he was also a prolific political pamphleteer, which is evidenced by 'The Political Works of Daniel Defoe'. Born Daniel Foe, he later added the aristocratic-sounding 'De' to his last name, crafting an identity that would resonate with the gentrified reading audiences of his time. His work is marked by its detailed depiction of physical settings and its journalistic detail; his fiction reads as if it were factual, which can be partly attributed to his background in journalism and his keen observation of contemporary practices and the social order. Beyond 'Robinson Crusoe', Defoe penned several influential works including 'Moll Flanders', 'A Journal of the Plague Year', and 'Roxana'. Defoe's writing style is vivid, with an uncompromising realism that was uncommon in narratives of the 18th century, which often veered into didactic and heavily moralistic territory. His works explore themes of survival, economic individualism, social mobility, and the human struggle against adversity—which have earned him a lasting place in the canon of English literature.