by Daniel Defoe [Defoe, or j Defoe]
There is no doubt that Robinson Crusoe is important to literary history. First published in 1719, it is among one of the first novels ever written. It also marked the beginning of realistic fiction, with its success leading to the popularity of castaway novels. I doubt however that the style and content of the original version of Robinson Crusoe will appeal to today's young readers. First, let's consider the style. It is so rambling and repetitious that it made my head hurt to read it in large chunks. Besides writing novels, Daniel Defoe apparently also wrote manuals. I believe it! A second problem I have with Defoe's style is how analytical and impassive his descriptions are. I can't remember the last time I checked my email so often during one page. Next, let's consider the content. It irritated me on two levels. First, Defoe was badly in need of an editor. I'm all for skipping ahead to that fatal seafaring journey where he is marooned, because from that point until his rescue I somewhat enjoyed the story. Moreover, in my version (a slightly shortened form of part one), after Crusoe is rescued, Defoe tortured me for twenty-five additional pages with accounts of Crusoe's life back in England. The content also irritated me on a second level, in that there is material which begs for footnotes so that readers understand the context of the times wherein Defoe wrote. At this point, I would be amiss if I didn't point out what I did enjoy about Robinson Crusoe. Daniel Defoe created an extremely realistic character. I also enjoyed reading about all the tools that Crusoe created during his sojourn on the island, along with his ponderings on moral dilemmas such as when is it right to kill another man and what role God should have in his life. As you can see, there are gems in Robinson Crusoe. Unfortunately, they're so grimed in repetition and unnecessary content that they become drudgery to me. For that reason, I found myself wondering: Do some literary classics become dated? Should a book ever be rewritten in modern English? Should a book ever be abridged? What do you think? -- review submitted by Allison H.-F. - a customer of the Bennett Martin Public Library [See Allison's issue of the Customer Snapshot newsletter!]
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