Essay, Biography or Paragraph on “Daniel Defoe” complete biography for Class 10, Class 12 and Graduation and other classes.

Daniel Defoe

England : Author of Robinson Crusoe

Birth : 1660                 Death : 1731

Daniel Defoe is considered as a pioneer in English novel who wrote the first English novel of a genius calibre Robinson Crusoe. Though Defoe wrote many novels but it was Robinson Crusoe which established his immediate and permanent fame in the literary world. Robinson Crusoe is a novel of adventure based on the experiences of the Scottish explorer Alexander Selkirk who strands on an uninhabited island of Juan Fernandez, off the coast of Chile in the Pacific. Defoe has presented an account of Robinson Crusoe’s adventures in such a wild manner that the readers begin to identify themselves with him. The tremendous popularity of Robinson Crusoe can be known from the fact that it has been translated into many world languages. Defoe was a pioneer in journalism too. He started the periodical Review in 1704 which set up an example of a sound and straightforward journalism. Defoe was a prolific writer and wrote a large number of books, pamphlets and articles. Some other important literary works of Defoe are as follows: The For-tunes and Misfortunes of the Famous Moll Flanders (1722). The Fortune Mistress better known as Roxana (1722), The History of the Life and Adventures of Mr. Duncan Campbell (1720), A Tour Through the Whole Islands of Great Britain (1724) and A Journal of the Plague Year (1722).

Defoe was born in London in 1660. His father was a butcher in London, named Foe, who at the age of forty added the prefix ‘De’ to his name. The life that Defoe led was full of extremes from poverty to prosperity, from a well-off brick maker to a starving journalist. lie was a sort of social reformer also and wanted to uplift the poor working classes. Defoe was known for his frank and straightforward views on public affairs. This on many occasions landed him into trouble and he was also emprisoned but he never hesitated in expressing his opinions. Defoe passed away in 1731 at the age of 71.