LIFE

Daniel Defoe was born in 1660 into a family of dissidents, a Protestant sect that rejected the authority of
the Church of England. His father wanted a religious career for him, but he started working as an
apprentice and then went on his own. He became a journalist and his biggest success was The Review, the
magazine he published two or three times a week. He became a famous and well-paid intellectual by
writing political essays and pamphlets. Queen Anne had him arrested, tried and imprisoned because he did
not like his critical attitude. He refuted his ideas to be released and became a secret agent for the new
government. When he was in his sixties, he began writing highly successful novels. She published her first
novel, Robinson Crusoe, followed by Captain Singleton, then publishes Moll Flanders and finally The
Fortunate Mistress, better known as Roxana, which tells the adventures of a high society woman who uses
her beauty to achieve what she wants. Thanks to the money earned from these works, Defoe could afford a
comfortable standard of living, he died in 1731.

NOVELS
Defoe is considered the father of the English novel. His original narrative technique became the basis for the
development of the realistic novel. His novels are rich in fantasy, in the form of true stories, they are
biographical memories provided by the hero. A preface by the author underlines its authenticity. Formed by a
series of episodes and adventures held together by the presence of a single hero. His main goal as a writer
was to produce a large and effective production not aimed at a critical audience. As a result, his novels lack a
coherent storyline. The characters are presented from within and through their actions. They usually appear
isolated, physically or socially, in their struggle for survival or for their daily bread.