It’s 1719, Daniel Defoe flips through the freshly printed pages of his latest novel. It took him just six months to write but he has a good feeling about this one. He runs his finger along the title page, “The Life and Strange Surprizing Adventures of Robinson Crusoe” printed in bold black ink. He feels good about this story, a story that landed on his lap, really. And his hunch would prove correct. The new novel would sell through 4 editions before the end of the year and over the next century or so it would come to be printed in more editions and translations than any other book in Western literature, besides the bible, of course. You’re likely familiar with Robinson Crusoe, even if you haven’t read the book. It’s become the quintessential story of adventure and survival. But did you know, the story of Robinson Crusoe is based on the real life survival of an actual man? Let’s fix that. 

Sources: 

• Smithsonian Magazine "The Author of Robinson Crusoe Used Almost 200 Pseudonyms"
• Chateau de Versailles "The Duke of Anjou, King of Spain 1700"
• National Health Service "Scurvy"
• US Naval Institute "Finding the Cure for Scurvy" 
• Smithsonian Magazine "The Real Robinson Crusoe"
• Short History of podcast "The Real Robinson Crusoe"

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