Daniel Defoe, the famous XNUMXth century English novelist and journalist, was born one day as today from 1660. Author of the well-known Robinson Crusoe, based on a true story, he also signed stories like All the Captain Singleton Adventures o minor Flanders, which is possibly the first great social novel in English literature, about the life of a prostitute. These are some chosen fragments of them to remember.
Daniel Defoe - Selection of fragments
Robinson Crusoe
On the ship I found pens, ink, and paper, and I did my best to save them; while the ink lasted I was able to keep a very accurate chronicle, but when it was finished I found myself unable to continue it, since I could not make ink despite everything I tried. This came to show me that I needed a lot of things outside of what I had accumulated. Having managed to accustom my spirit a little to its current condition and abandoning the habit of looking at the sea in case I saw a ship, I applied myself from then on to organizing my life and making it as comfortable as possible. I made a table and a chair.
Moll Flanders
It is quite true that, from the first moment I began to have a relationship with him, I was determined to allow him to sleep with me, if he proposed it to me; but it was only because I needed your help and knew of no other way to assure it. But when we were together that night, and, as I have said, we went to such extremes, I saw the weakness of my position. I couldn't resist the temptation and was moved to give him everything before he asked. And yet, he was so fair to me that he never held this in my face, nor on any occasion did he express the slightest displeasure at my behavior, but always protested that he was as satisfied with my company as the first hour we were together, I mean together in bed.
Diary of the year of the plague
But, as I was saying, on the whole the aspect of things had changed a lot, regret and sadness were painted on all faces; and although some neighborhoods had hardly been affected by the plague, everyone seemed deeply disturbed; And as we saw the epidemic progressing day by day, everyone considered themselves and their families in the greatest danger. If it were possible to offer a faithful description of those times to those who have not lived them, and to give the reader an exact idea of the horror that prevailed everywhere, it would not fail to make a justified impression on their minds and fill them with astonishment. It could well be said that all of London was crying; It is true that in the streets you could not see mourning clothes, because no one, not even their closest relatives, wore black or wore any garment considered mourning; but the voice of pain was heard everywhere.
Captain Singleton Adventures
While we and our Negroes searched for provisions and gold, the silversmith cut more and more figures from his silver and iron plates. He was already very skilled and made real works of art, which represented elephants, tigers, civet cats, ostriches, eagles, birds, skulls, fish, and everything that passed through his imagination. The silver and iron were almost exhausted, so he began to work on highly beaten gold.
Roxana or the lucky courtesan
Afterwards, he still came back several times regarding my allowance, since it was necessary to comply with certain formalities so that I could collect it without having to request the approval of the prince each time. I did not fully understand the details of the operation, which took more than two months to carry out, but, as soon as everything was settled, the butler stopped by to see me one afternoon and told me that His Highness planned to visit me that night, though he wanted to be received unceremoniously. I prepared not only my rooms, but myself, and made sure that upon arrival there was no one in the house except for her butler and Amy.