ROBINSON CRUSOE

This book includes an introduction and notes by Doreen Roberts, RutherfordCollege, University of Kent at Canterbury. From its first publication in1719, ''Robinson Crusoe'' has been printed in over 700 editions. It hasinspired almost every conceivable kind of imitation and variation, andbeen the subject of plays, opera, cartoons, and computer games. Thecharacter of Crusoe has entered the consciousness of each succeedinggeneration as readers add their own interpretation to the adventures sothrillingly 'recorded' by Defoe. Praised by eminent figures such asColeridge, Rousseau and Wordsworth, this perennially popular book wascited by Karl Marx in Das Kapital to illustrate economic theory. Howeverit is readers of all ages over the last 280 years who have given ''RobinsonCrusoe'' its abiding position as a classic tale of adventure.