DEFOE, DANIEL

DEFOE, DANIEL
   author of "Robinson Crusoe," born in London; bred for the Dissenting ministry; turned to business, but took chiefly to politics; was a zealous supporter of William III.; his ironical treatise, "The Shortest Way with Dissenters" (1703), which, treated seriously, was burned by order of the House of Commons, led to his imprisonment and exposed him for three days to the pillory, amidst the cheers, however, not the jeers, of the mob; in prison wrote a "Hymn to the Pillory," and started his Review; on his release he was employed on political missions, and wrote a "History of the Union," which he contributed to promote. The closing years of his life were occupied mainly with literary work, and it was then, in 1719, he produced his world-famous "Robinson Crusoe"; has been described as "master of the art of forging a story and imposing it on the world for truth." "His circumstantial invention," as Stopford Brooke remarks, "combined with a style which exactly fits it by its simplicity, is the root of the charm of his great story" (1661-1731).

The Nuttall Encyclopaedia. . 1907.

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  • Defoe, Daniel — orig. Daniel Foe born 1660, London, Eng. died April 24, 1731, London British novelist, pamphleteer, and journalist. A well educated London merchant, he became an acute economic theorist and began to write eloquent, witty, often audacious tracts… …   Universalium

  • Defoe, Daniel — ► (1659? 1731) Escritor inglés. Obtuvo un gran éxito con su novela La vida y las aventuras extrañamente sorprendentes de Robinsón Crusoe (1719). Otras obras: Las aventuras del capitán Singleton (1720) y Moll Flanders (1722). * * * orig. Daniel… …   Enciclopedia Universal

  • Defoe, Daniel — (1660 1731)    Born in London, the son of a butcher, he became a hosiery merchant, traveling widely on the Continent. He took part in the Monmouth Rebellion (1685) and in 1688 joined the advancing forces of William III. He was popular with the… …   British and Irish poets

  • Defoe,Daniel — De·foe (dĭ fōʹ), Daniel. 1660 1731. British writer whose most famous novel, Robinson Crusoe (1719), was inspired by the exploits of a Scottish sailor and castaway, Alexander Selkirk. He also wrote Moll Flanders and A Journal of the Plague Year… …   Universalium

  • Defoe, Daniel —  (1659–1731) British author …   Bryson’s dictionary for writers and editors

  • Defoe, Daniel — (1661? 1731)    Journalist and novelist, s. of a butcher in St. Giles, where he was b. His f. being a Dissenter, he was ed. at a Dissenting coll. at Newington with the view of becoming a Presbyterian minister. He joined the army of Monmouth, and… …   Short biographical dictionary of English literature

  • Defoe — Defoe, Daniel …   Enciclopedia Universal

  • Daniel Defoe — Born c.1659–1661 Died 24 April 1731 Occupation Writer, Journalist …   Wikipedia

  • Daniel Defoe — Saltar a navegación, búsqueda Daniel Defoe Daniel Defoe, según grabado de la época …   Wikipedia Español

  • Daniel Defoë — Daniel Defoe Daniel Defoe Activité(s) Romancier Naissance 10 octobre 1660 Stoke Newington Décès 21 …   Wikipédia en Français

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