Daniel Defoe could be a spy.
Daniel Defoe is considered a classic of world literature. He is known primarily for his work “Robinson Crusoe”. But few know that the writer published political pamphlets on issues of the day, doing forced espionage, and one was even tied to a pillory. About the unusual vicissitudes of life of the writer – later in the review.
Daniel Defoe. Card.
The famous author of the adventures of Robinson Crusoe was born in about 1660 in the family butcher James Fo. Parents struggled to keep their son and learned to become a pastor, but politics and Commerce took the mind of a young man is much stronger than the service. After graduation, Daniel arranged an assistant merchant and travels around Europe.
Some time later, to make his name more euphonious and conceal the humble origins, Daniel adds to it the prefix “De”. He independently engaged in the business, but failing.
Daniel Defoe in the pillory. Illustration Of Ira Crowe.
At the same time, the writer begins to anonymously issue satirical pamphlets on the topic of the day. The name Defoe was known in 1701, after the publication of the pamphlet “Purebred Englishman”. The writer derided the haughty aristocrats and spoke out in defense of king William of orange (of Dutch origin). A year later, issued a pamphlet, which made even more noise than the previous one – “the Simplest way to deal with dissenters”. The government caught up with Daniel Defoe, and as punishment, he took a monetary penalty, was given seven years probation and tied to the pillory in the square, where everyone had the chance to make fun of him.
English writer Daniel Defoe.
After the massacre, Daniel Defoe was devastated morally and financially. He could not support a wife and several children. In 1703 he was approached by Robert Harley (later a prominent statesman) with a proposal to “solve all problems”. The writer was pardoned, he paid his fine and the allowance for the family. In exchange, Daniel Defoe was supposed to cover the policy of the Kingdom in the press favorable to the government light. Plus, the writer collected the “right” information in Scotland, or simply spied upon.
Cover to the publication of “Robinson Crusoe.”
Working as a secret agent, Daniel Defoe continued his literary activity. In 1719 saw the publication of the novel “Robinson Crusoe”, which was written the name of the author in the history of world classic literature. In the basis of the novel is the true story of a sailor who has lived on the island for several years after a shipwreck. His hero, the writer of “settled” on the island for 28 years and supplemented it with the image of his spiritual experiences. The novel was a huge success.
The author wrote two sequels of the adventures of Robinson Crusoe, but these works and the audience was much calmer.
Old tombstone of Daniel Defoe and modern monument to the author.
Being in deep old age, Daniel Defoe was again in debt. Trying to get rid of creditors, he rewrote his property to his son. That, in turn, threw the old man on the street, and he had to live out his life in poverty and loneliness.
