Daniel Defoe

Daniel Defoe was an English writer, journalist, merchant and spy. He is famous for his novels Robinson Crusoe of 1719, Moll Flanders of 1722 and Roxana: The Fortunate Mistress of 1724. He has been seen as one of the earliest proponents of the English novel, and he helped to popularise the form in Britain. He was born about 1660 and died on 24 April 1731. Robinson Crusoe had run through four editions before the end of 1719 and has become one of the most widely published books in history, spawning so many imitations that its name is used to define a genre, the Robinsonade. He also wrote many political tracts, was often in trouble with the authorities and spent a period in prison.