Daniel Defoe: businessman and romantic, showered with flowers in the pillory

Biography

Born into the family of a Presbyterian meat merchant, he trained to become a pastor, but was forced to abandon his church career. After graduating from Newington Academy, where he studied Greek and Latin and classical literature, he became a clerk at a wholesale hosiery merchant. On trade matters he often visited Spain and France, where he became acquainted with the life of Europe and improved his skills in languages.

Subsequently, he himself was at one time the owner of a hosiery production and then first the manager and then the owner of a large brick and tile factory, but he went bankrupt. In general, Defoe was an entrepreneur-businessman with an adventurous streak - a type common in that era. He was also one of the most active politicians of his time. A talented publicist, pamphleteer and publisher, he, without officially holding any government position, at one time exercised great influence on the king and the government.

Journalism

Defoe began his literary career with political pamphlets (anonymous) and newspaper articles. He proved himself to be a talented satirist and publicist. Wrote on different political topics. In one of his works - “Experience of Projects” - he proposes to improve communications, open banks, savings banks for the poor and insurance societies. The significance of his projects was enormous, considering that at that time almost nothing he proposed existed. The functions of banks were performed by moneylenders and jewelers-money changers. The Bank of England, one of the centers of world financial capital at the present time, had just opened at that time.

Defoe gained especially wide popularity since the appearance of his pamphlet “The True Englishman.” Eighty thousand copies were sold semi-legally on the streets of London within a few days. The appearance of this pamphlet was due to attacks by the aristocracy against King William III, who defended the interests of the bourgeoisie. The aristocrats attacked the king in particular because he was not an Englishman, but a foreigner who did not even speak English well. Defoe spoke in his defense and, not so much defending the king as attacking the aristocracy, argued that the ancient aristocratic families trace their origins to the Norman pirates, and the new ones - from the French footmen, hairdressers and tutors who poured into England during the Stuart restoration. After the publication of this pamphlet, Daniel Defoe became close friends with the king and provided enormous services to the English bourgeoisie in obtaining trade privileges and securing them by acts of parliament. True Son During his turbulent century, Defoe more than once experienced the vicissitudes of fate: he embarked on risky adventures, went bankrupt, got rich, went bankrupt again and made capital again. He tried the professions of a merchant, sailor, journalist, spy, politician, and at the age of 59 he became a writer.

The bourgeoisie fought against the aristocracy on all fronts, in particular in the field of religion. And Defoe came out with a malicious pamphlet entitled “The shortest way to deal with dissidents.” Aristocrats and fanatical clergy took this satire seriously, and the advice to deal with dissidents by gallows was considered a revelation equal to the Bible. But when it became clear that Defoe had brought the arguments of the supporters of the ruling church to the point of absurdity and thereby completely discredited them, the church and the aristocracy considered themselves scandalized, achieved Defoe’s arrest and trial, by which he was sentenced to seven years in prison, a fine and three times pillory.

This medieval method of punishment was especially painful, since it gave the right to street onlookers and voluntary lackeys of the clergy and aristocracy to mock the convicted person. But the bourgeoisie turned out to be so strong that it managed to turn this punishment into a triumph for its ideologist: Defoe was showered with flowers. On the day of standing in the pillory, Defoe, who was in prison, managed to print “Hymn to the Pillory.” In it, he trashes the aristocracy and explains why he was put to shame. The crowd sang this pamphlet in the streets and squares while Defoe's sentence was carried out.

"Robinson Crusoe"

First edition

TO artistic creativity Defoe turned late. In the fifty-eighth year of his life he wrote his Robinson Crusoe. Despite this, literary heritage what he left behind is enormous. Along with journalism, there are over 250 works by Defoe. Currently, his numerous works are known only to a narrow circle of specialists, but Robinson Crusoe, read both in major European centers, and in the most remote corners globe, continues to be reprinted in huge numbers of copies. Occasionally, Captain Singleton is also republished in England.

"Robinson Crusoe" is the brightest example of the so-called adventurous sea genre, the first manifestations of which can be found in English literature of the 16th century. The development of this genre, which reached its maturity in the 18th century, was determined by the development of English merchant capitalism.

Some “Travels” were written in the form of a diary, others in the form of a report or memo, others had a narrative form, but were not distinguished by consistency of presentation. The “diary” was interrupted by a narration; a diary was included in the narrations, depending on the requirements for accuracy of transmission. If special accuracy was required in conveying a conversation with a person, the conversation was recorded in the form of a dramatic dialogue; if an accurate transmission of the sequence of a series of events was required, they were recorded in the form of a diary, divided into hours and minutes; if it was necessary to describe something in less detail, they resorted to narration.

But maximum accuracy has always prevailed in this kind of work. However, even before the appearance of Robinson Crusoe, the documentary genre of travel showed a tendency to move into the artistic genre. In Robinson Crusoe this process of changing the genre through the accumulation of elements of fiction was completed. But Defoe uses the style of the Travels. Its features, which had a certain practical significance, become literary device: Defoe's language is also simple, precise, protocol. Specific techniques of artistic writing, the so-called poetic figures and tropes, are completely alien to him.

In “Travel” one cannot find, for example, “an endless sea”, but only an exact indication of longitude and latitude in degrees and minutes; the sun does not rise in some “apricot fog”, but at 6:37 am; the wind does not “caress” the sails, is not “light-winged”, but blows from the northeast; they are not compared, for example, in whiteness and firmness with the breasts of young women, but are described, as in textbooks of nautical schools. The reader's impression of the complete reality of Robinson's adventures is due to this style of writing. Defoe also interrupts the narrative form with a dramatic dialogue (Crusoe's conversation with Friday and the sailor Atkins), Defoe introduces into the fabric of the novel a diary and an entry in the office book, where good is recorded in debit, evil in credit, and the remainder is still a solid asset.

In his descriptions, Defoe is always precise to the smallest detail. We learn that it takes Crusoe 42 days to make a board for a shelf, a boat - 154 days, the reader moves with him step by step in his work and, as it were, overcomes difficulties and suffers failures with him. Crusoe suffers many failures.

The bourgeois did not close his eyes to the fact that not everything goes smoothly in the world of struggle. In the struggle with nature and people, he overcame obstacles, did not complain or grumble about failures. The world is good, but the world is disorganized, there is mismanagement everywhere. No matter where on the globe Crusoe finds himself, everywhere he looks at his surroundings through the eyes of the owner, the organizer. In this work, with the same calmness and tenacity, he tars the ship and pours hot brew on the savages, breeds barley and rice, drowns extra kittens and destroys cannibals who threaten his cause. All this is done as part of normal daily work. Crusoe is not cruel, he is humane and fair in the world of purely bourgeois justice.

The first part of Robinson Crusoe was sold in several editions at once. Defoe captivated readers with the simplicity of his descriptions of real travel and the richness of his fiction. But Robinson Crusoe never enjoyed wide popularity among the aristocracy. The children of the aristocracy were not brought up on this book. But Crusoe, with its idea of ​​the rebirth of man through work, has always been a favorite book of the bourgeoisie, and entire educational systems are built on this Erziehungsroman. Jean-Jacques Rousseau, in his “Emile,” also recommends “Robinson Crusoe” as the only work on which youth should be brought up.

Bourgeois writers eagerly imitated Robinson Crusoe. From the vast literature of “Robinsonades,” one can note Kampe’s “New Robinson” (), in which an element of individualism is developed: Robinson found himself on an island without any supplies or tools and had to start everything with bare hands. “Swiss Robinson” by Wyss is focused on collectivism: Robinson found himself on an island with four sons, different in character and individual inclinations. In the first "Robinson" the problem of the development of productive forces is posed, in the second - the development of social forms, of course from the point of view of the bourgeoisie.

In the rest of the alterations, the center is Robinson's life on the island, viewed from different points of view. “Robinsonade” took on a different character from the so-called successors of Defoe. The most prominent are T. Smollett and F. Marryat. They sharply showed a bias towards maritime romance and the preaching of great-power British imperialism, due to the subsequent stage of development of the English bourgeoisie, its strengthening in the colonies, and the achievement of world power.

The influence of Defoe's novel on European literature is not limited to the “Robinsonade” he generated. It is both wider and deeper. With his work, Defoe introduced the subsequently extremely popular motif of simplification, the loneliness of man in the bosom of nature, the beneficial nature of communication with it for his moral improvement. This motif was developed by Rousseau and varied many times by his followers (Bernardin de Saint Pierre and others).

The technique of the Western European novel also owes a lot to Robinson. Defoe's art of depicting characters, his inventiveness expressed in the use of new situations - all this was a great achievement. With his philosophical and other digressions, skillfully intertwined with the main presentation, Defoe raised the importance of the novel among readers, turned it from a book for entertaining pastime into a source of important ideas, into an engine spiritual development. This technique was widely used in the 18th century.

It is characteristic that Defoe's contemporary - Swift - became known in Russia from the middle of the 18th century, and the works of Byron and W. Scott were read almost simultaneously in England and Russia. But since the appearance in Russia of not only the aristocratic reader, Robinson has not ceased to be translated and published in different volumes.

see also

Bibliography

• The True Relation of the Apparition of one Mrs. Veal, ;
• Robinson Crusoe, ;
• Captain Singleton, ;
• Moll Flanders, ;
• Colonel Jack, ;
• Journal of the Plague Year, ;
• A Tour through Great Britain, - ;
• A New Voyage round the World, ;
• The Complete English Tradesman (apology for profit), -;
• The Political History of the Devil, ;
• System of Magic, ;
• Essay on the Reality of Apparitions, . Ed. D.: Scott, ; Hazlitt, 1840; Bohn, - - ; Aitken, 16 vv, ;
• G. H. Moynadier, 16 vv. ;
• Boston, Constable's sumptuous reprints, - ;
• "Abbey Classics" series. Translations and publications in Russia: Robinson Crusoe, in two parts, transl. from French, St. Petersburg, ;
• Robinson Crusoe, in two volumes. 200 drawings by Granville, engraved on stone and printed in two tones, new translation. from French, M., ;
• Robinson Crusoe, trans. P. Konchalovsky, M., ;
• translation M. Shishmareva and Z. Zhuravskaya, St. Petersburg, ;
• translation L. Murakhina, ed. Sytina, M., ed. 4th and many more etc.
• The Joys and Sorrows of the Famous Moll Flanders, trans. P. Konchalovsky, “Russian wealth”, ЇЇ 1-4, dep. ed., M., with art. V. Lesevich, G. Gettner, Ten, P. S. Kogan, V. M. Fritsche;
• Universal history of literature, ed. Korsh and Kirpichnikov;
• Kamensky A. Daniel Defoe, his life and work, St. Petersburg, (in the biographical series of Pavlenkov);
• Zalshupin A., English. publicist of the 17th century, “The Observer”, Ї 6;
• Lesevich V., Daniel Defoe as a person, writer and public figure, "Russian" wealth", ЇЇ 5, 7, 8;
• His, Regarding “Mall Flanders” by D. Defoe, “Russian. wealth", Ї 1;
• Alferov A. et al., “Ten readings on literature”, M., ed. 2nd, M., . Biographies of D. (English): Chambers, ; Lee, ; Morley H., ; Wright, ; Whitten, 1900.
• Lamb, Hazlitt, Forster, Leslie Stephen, Minto, Masefield, W. P. Trent (Cambridge History of English Literature). In French language: Dottin, 3 vv., . In German. language: Horten F., Studien über die Sprache Defoe’s, Bonn, ;
• Schmidt R., Der Volkswille als realer Faktor des Verfassungslebens und D. Defoe, ;
• Dibelius, Der englische Roman. In English. language: Secord A. W., Studies in the narrative method of Defoe, . Research in the field of text - Lannert G. L., . About the sources of "Robinson Crusoe": Nicholson W., ; Lucius L. Hubbard, ;
• Lloyd's Catalog of edition of Robinson Crusoe and other books by and ref. to Defoe, L., .

About him

Wikimedia Foundation.

2010.

Quotes on Wikiquote Daniel Defoe (birth name; about, district, London - April 24, Springfel district, London) - English writer and publicist. Known mainly as the author of the novel Robinson Crusoe. Defoe is considered one of the first proponents of the novel as a genre. He helped popularize the genre in Britain and is considered by some to be one of the founders of the English novel. Defoe is a prolific and varied writer, having written over 500 books, pamphlets and magazines on different topics(politics, economics, crime, religion, marriage, psychology, supernatural, etc.). He was also the founder of economic journalism. In his journalism he promoted bourgeois sanity and defended religious tolerance and freedom of speech.

Defoe did not immediately understand the true state of affairs under the new order. Still taking part in the discussion of topical issues, he entered into controversy about the so-called “random agreement”. The issue was whether the dissenters should deviate from the rule they had adopted not to attend divine services of the state church in cases where attendance was part of the official duties of an official.

At first, Defoe decided the issue in favor of observing rituals; but, noticing that the dissenters began to look at him as a traitor, and seeing at the same time that support for the bill came from the enemies of toleration, he quickly changed tactics and, hiding his name, published a pamphlet entitled: “The shortest reprisal against dissenters" (The Shortest Way with the Dissenters), in which, adopting the tone and manner of a representative of the reaction, he advised taking the most brutal measures against the dissenters. The reactionaries were misled and at first warmly welcomed the unknown author; but when it became known that the author of the pamphlet was a dissenter himself, the government found it necessary to bring Defoe to trial. Defoe first went into hiding, but then decided to “surrender to the mercy of the government.” The court sentenced him to a fine, standing in the pillory three times, posting bail to ensure his behavior, and imprisonment for a period depending on the mercy of the Queen.

Defoe is also credited with publishing in 1724, under the pseudonym Charles Johnson, the book A General History of the Robberies and Murders of the Most Notorious Pirates, often abbreviated to the General History of Piracy.

Defoe stands apart in his work historical novel“Diary of the Plague Year" (1722), containing an unreliable description of the Great Plague in London in 1665 (when the author himself was about 5 years old), but partly based on the diary of the writer’s uncle, Gabriel Fo.

"Robinson Crusoe"[ | ]

At the age of 59, in 1719, Daniel Defoe published the first and best novel for all of it creative life- "Life and amazing Adventures Robinson Crusoe, a sailor from York, who lived twenty-eight years completely alone on an uninhabited island off the coast of America near the mouth of the Orinoco River, where he was thrown by a shipwreck, during which the entire crew of the ship died except him; with an account of his unexpected liberation by the pirates, written by himself." The Russian reader knows this work as “Robinson Crusoe”.

The idea of ​​the novel was suggested to the writer by a real incident: in 1704, a Scottish sailor, Alexander Selkirk, after a quarrel with the captain, landed on an unfamiliar shore with a small supply of provisions and weapons. For more than four years he led a hermit's life, as it turned out, on the island of Juan Fernandez in the Pacific Ocean, until he was taken onto a ship commanded by Woods Rogers.

Works [ | ]

Novels [ | ]

Other in prose [ | ]

Poetry [ | ]

Poems [ | ]

• "The True-Born Englishman" - 1701
• "Hymn to the Pillory" - 1704

Other [ | ]

• Moubray House

Journalism [ | ]

Edition of Defoe in Russia[ | ]

Other Defoe-related materials[ | ]

It is known that the writer was born in 1660 in London into the family of a meat merchant. His father wanted to see him as a pastor (the family was Prisvytorian), and future writer He even studied at a theological seminary, but, for unknown reasons, he had to abandon his spiritual career and Daniel, like his father, took up trade.

From 1681 he began to write poetry on religious themes. In 1685, he took part in the Monmouth uprising against James II Stuart, then entered the Newington Academy, where he studied Greek and Latin, and after graduation he again took up trade and traveled extensively throughout Europe, studying languages, absorbing the life and customs of people.

Trader, writer, spy

In 1697 he wrote his first major literary work and a scientific treatise, then published several satirical works in which he ridiculed xenophobia. For one of them he was even sentenced to pillory and imprisonment. After some time, he was released and continued to engage in business.

It is known that Defoe was not just engaged in trade, but also spied for English king; some even believe that for some time he was the head of the “intelligence service” of Britain (he was not officially in public service, but had enormous influence on the king and the government, his opinion was listened to; most likely, he was released from prison only because he was taken with his promise to begin actively spying for the state).

In 1719, Defoe wrote and published his best novel, Robinson Crusoe. He took as a basis real events which occurred in 1704. This novel is not only about the simple survival of man in the wild, this novel is a hymn to civilization and a kind of retrospective of the path made by humanity: from barbarism (gathering and hunting) to progress (agriculture, cattle breeding, crafts).

Other biography options

• In 1724, a writer under the pseudonym Charles Johnson published a work entitled A General History of Piracy (first published in Russia in 1999). This is incredible interesting work, based on documents held by the British Colonial Office. This book contains the maximum reliable description the lives and adventures of such pirates as Bartholomew Roberts, Blackbeard, Steed Bonnet, John Rackham.
• Few people know that Daniel Defoe wrote a continuation of the adventures of Captain Crusoe. Moreover, the actions of the continuation novel take place in the so-called Great Tatary ( modern Russia, Mongolia and Tatarstan). The author not only describes the nature of Great Tatary, but also tries to reveal in his work the history, way of life, and customs of the peoples inhabiting it (Russians, Siberian Cossacks, Tatars, Mongols, Chinese).
• A short biography of Daniel Defoe is usually studied in the 5th grade, when in literature lessons they are introduced to such a work as “Robinson Crusoe”.
• Defoe, known to most readers as the author of the novel Robinson Crusoe, wrote a large number of a wide variety of works (some experts count more than 500): pamphlets and scientific essays, novels to satirical stories, poems and essays in the first person. The writer is considered the founder of such a direction as economic journalism.
• It is known that in his journalistic works Defoe promoted religious tolerance, freedom of speech and bourgeois common sense, which was extremely unusual for that time.

Daniel Defoe considered a classic of world literature. He is best known for his work "Robinson Crusoe". But few people know that the writer published political pamphlets on the topic of the day, was engaged in forced espionage, and was once even tied to the pillory. The writer’s unusual life vicissitudes are discussed later in the review.

After some time, in order to make his surname more euphonious and hide its simple origin, Daniel adds the prefix “De” to it. He runs his own business, but goes broke.

But the immortal novel "Robinson Crusoe" still excites the minds of not only teenagers, but also older people. Brendon Grimshaw, an Englishman from Yorkshire, after reading Moyen's novel Indian Ocean and since then devoted himself to nature!

Daniel Defoe - famous English writer and publicist. He is the author of the famous adventure novel “Robinson Crusoe”.

It is interesting that Daniel Defoe is considered one of the founders of the novel genre. Over the years, Defoe managed to write more than 500 books on a variety of topics.

In addition, he advocated freedom of speech and religion, and also became one of the founders of economic journalism.

So, in front of you short biography Daniel Defoe.

Biography of Daniel Defoe

The exact date of birth of Daniel Defoe is unknown. He is believed to have been born in 1660 in the Cripplegate area of ​​London.

The writer's real name is Daniel Fo. The boy grew up in the devout family of meat merchant James Forne.

Childhood and youth

Daniel Defoe's childhood passed in a religious atmosphere, as his parents were Presbyterians who professed the teachings of John Calvin.

In this regard, when Defoe was 14 years old, he was sent to study at the Theological Academy. The parents dreamed that their son would become a pastor in the future. After graduating from the academy, Daniel continued his studies at the Protestant Academy in Stoke Newington.

The young man was quite inquisitive and had an interest in many things. He managed to master Greek and Latin languages, and also read a lot of classic literature.

Contrary to his parents' expectations, after finishing his studies, Defoe did not aspire to become a pastor. Instead, he became interested in commercial activities.

The first job in the biography of the future writer was a hosiery factory, where he worked as a clerk and was also responsible for the finances of the enterprise.

Feeling confident in his abilities, he wanted to open his own factory.

As a result, in the mid-1680s, Daniel Defoe launched the production of hosiery products and successfully managed the entire process.

Having become a fairly wealthy man, he began trading wine, tobacco and building materials.

During this period of his biography he managed to visit different European countries and see with your own eyes how different people live.

After this, he began to thoroughly engage in political and religious issues that had worried him since his youth.

Creative biography of Defoe

The first work in Defoe’s biography was called “An Essay on Projects,” written by him in 1697. By the way, the outstanding American figure really liked this book.

After this, he composed the poem “The Thoroughbred Englishman,” which addressed political and social issues.

The writer was an adherent of liberal and revolutionary ideas, thanks to which he soon had many like-minded people.

Soon, Daniel Defoe published a new work, “The Shortest Disposition with Dissenters,” in which he ridiculed the current government.

Defoe's biographers would later call this work “the event of the century,” since it caused a real stir in society.

The officials were so outraged at being portrayed in a foolish light that they decided to arrest him. Defoe was sentenced to the pillory and also fined a large sum money.

An interesting fact is that earlier, when a person was tied to the pillory, anyone could mock him as his heart desired.

However, instead, Daniel Defoe was showered with flowers and sympathized with him in every possible way. Thus he became a national hero.

Soon the writer found himself in serious trouble. financial situation. He fell into a lot of debt, which resulted in him being asked to work for the British government.

Defoe became an English spy in Scotland. Later, all his debts were paid off, and his family was allocated a substantial amount of money from the royal treasury.

At the same time, Defoe continued to write various works.

An interesting fact is that the novel “Robinson Crusoe” was largely based on real events.

After Daniel Defoe heard a lot of praise addressed to him, he composed a continuation of the story. He wrote two books in which the hero wandered around Mongolia.

However, these works were already much less popular than the first part of Robinson Crusoe.

During the period of biography 1720-1724. Daniel Defoe wrote 4 books: “Memoirs of a Cavalier”, “Diary of the Plague Year”, “The Happy Courtesan, or Roxana” and “The Joys and Sorrows of the Famous Moll Flanders”.

In his works, Defoe liked to describe different historical events. His heroes constantly found themselves in some risky situations, from which they managed to emerge triumphantly.

Personal life

In 1684, Daniel Defoe met Mary Tuffley, whom he immediately began courting. Soon he proposed to the girl, to which she agreed.

In this marriage they had 8 children. It is worth noting that Mary had a rich dowry, but soon all her funds were lost due to bankruptcy. As a result, they incurred a lot of debt.

The Defoe family lived in one of the most criminal areas of London.

An interesting fact is that Daniel himself went out only on Sundays, since on these days it was forbidden to arrest debtors.

Death

IN last years Throughout his life, Daniel Defoe was in dire need of money. In this regard, he decided to deceive his publisher and go on the run.

Defoe abandoned his family and began to change his place of residence frequently.

Over time, the publisher finally found his debtor and wanted to kill him with a sword, but the 70-year-old writer managed to knock the weapon out of his hands.

After that he continued to wander around different cities, constantly fearing for his life.

The great writer died in one of the rented apartments in an unknown area of ​​London. He was never able to say goodbye to his wife and children.

The news of Defoe's death did not arouse much interest in the press. Moreover, many obituaries in newspapers were filled with sarcasm.

After the funeral, the writer's grave quickly became overgrown with grass. Only 100 years later, a monument will be erected at the site of his burial with the words: “In memory of the author of Robinson Crusoe.”

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