You would never guess that this novel was published nearly 300 years ago - the exploits of its hero remain fresh and exciting, and even those who have never read the book recognise the name Robinson Crusoe as a synonym for a desert-island castaway. This Evergreen edition offers young readers a chance to get swept away by one of literature's most memorable stories, a saga teeming with pirates and cannibals, tropical wildlife, and adventures in self-reliance. Crusoe himself narrates the tale of how he defied his parents' wishes, leaving his comfortable home in England and setting off to sea to make his fortune. After some initial struggles, he does indeed become a sailor and a prosperous merchant, but his good luck abandons him during a violent storm in the Caribbean. As the shipwreck's sole survivor, Crusoe salvages what he can and builds a habitat, cultivates a garden, and ekes out a solitary existence - until a footprint in the sand reveals that he's not alone. AGES: 8 to 12 AUTHOR: After exploring several careers - as a merchant, manufacturer, insurer, and spy - Daniel Defoe found his true calling. A prolific writer who published over 500 novels, travel guides, pamphlets, and journals on subjects from economics to the supernatural, Defoe achieved immortality with his 1719 novel, Robinson Crusoe.