Daniel Defoe: The Father of the English Novel
In the early year of 1660, the now renowned author, pamphleteer, novelist and journalist Daniel Defoe was born to his parents, Alice and James Defoe. Defoe, son of the puritan butcher of Stroke Newington James, is considered by a large majority to be the originator of the familiar “English novel.” During the brilliant author’s span of life, a large majority of the period’s literature had been written through the use of extensive poems or theatrical dramas, as opposed to the use of prose, which Defoe successfully employed in his 1719 publication of the famous novel Robinson Crusoe.
During his youth, the young Defoe attended classes at the Charles Morton’s Academy in London; however, in contrast to his father’s strong desires for him to continue in the ministry, he became interested in politics and trade. The rebellious Defoe, who traveled through Europe at length, wrote about his unsuccessful mercantile projects, which left him owing large sums, in the order of seventeen thousand pounds, to debtors. In 1684 the now-bankrupt author married the soon-to-be mother of his seven children, Mary Tuffley, and for the following eighteen years the renowned author found patronage as a supporter of William II and gained the position of mercenary due to his change in allegiance.
As time passed Defoe began to express his opinions on paper and in the year of 1702, after continued failure in the mercantile business, Defoe composed The Shortest-Way With The Dissenters, which circulated throughout the area as a pamphlet that argued for the extermination of each and every dissenter. This opinionated piece of literature was not only considered to be the opposite of amusing by those in power; but therefore caused Defoe to be immediately arrested and placed in prison in the month of May of 1703. In addition to The Shortest-Way With Dissenters, he also wrote a mock-ode while imprisoned, which was sold in the streets, titled Hymn To The Pillory. After his release, Defoe’s journalistic character was considered to be diabolical, but at the same time equally popular.
Despite his unscrupulous reputation, Defoe attempted to remain anonymous throughout the use of his various pen names, which included Eye Witness, T. Taylor and Andrew Morton. In addition to the previously given aliases, Defoe’s most noted and unusual pen name was “Heliostrapolis, secretary to the Emperor of the Moon.” In order to follow suit with his bizarre desire to remain anonymous, even his submission of Robinson Crusoe was lacking attribution. During Defoe’s extensive career as a political writer in Europe, his pieces were widely read. Although his pieces caused enemies in high places, he eventually was published in a weekly format in the form of a modern newspaper. Defoe’s greatest literary achievement was realized in 1719 due to the publishing of his novel Robinson Crusoe. During the last years of his authorship, Defoe concentrated on books rather than pamphlets and ultimately ended up writing the great fiction work, Roxana, which was on stands in 1724.
