Daniel Defoe

Daniel Defoe (1660—1731) was a prolific writer in several different capacities, now best known as the author of Robinson Crusoe. A Dissenter, his strongly expressed views brought heavy penalties on him, but then led him to become a propagandist of the Tories in order to avoid further consequences.

His writings include satirical poems and pamphlets (The Shortest Way with Dissenters), other political writings, journalism (The Review), guide books (Tour through the whole Island of Great Britain) and novels (Robinson Crusoe, Moll Flanders, A Journal of the Plague Year and others).