Defoe

Defoe, Daniel Defoe (c. 1660–1731) was an English trader, journalist, pamphleteer, and novelist. Born Daniel Foe in London, he later adopted the spelling Defoe. He pursued business ventures and became active as a writer and political commentator. He published numerous pamphlets, often focusing on religious dissent, economics, and civil liberties; he founded and contributed to The Review, a periodical that ran from 1704 to 1713. His political writings led to legal trouble; in 1703 he was imprisoned briefly for seditious libel in connection with The Shortest Way with the Dissenters.

Defoe is best known for his novels, though he wrote many non-fiction works. In 1719 he published Robinson Crusoe, a tale of survival and practical reason that became immensely popular and influential, helping establish the modern English novel. He subsequently produced Moll Flanders, A Journal of the Plague Year, Captain Singleton, Roxana, and other works that blend travel, reportage, and social observation. Much of his fiction employs a realist, documentary tone and a keen interest in commerce, geography, and everyday life.

Defoe's legacy lies in his role as a pioneer of the English novel and as a prolific commentator on politics, religion, and society. His best-known work, Robinson Crusoe, remains a staple of classical literature, while his broader output illustrates the breadth and enterprise of early 18th-century English writing. He died in London in 1731.