Daniel Defoe (c. 1660 - 24 April 1731), born Daniel Foe, was an English trader, writer, journalist, pamphleteer and spy. He is most famous for his novel Robinson Crusoe, which is second only to the Bible in its number of translations. He has been seen as one of the earliest proponents of the English novel, and helped to popularise the form in Britain with others such as Aphra Behn and Samuel Richardson. Defoe wrote many political tracts and was often in trouble with the authorities, and spent a period in prison. Intellectuals and political leaders paid attention to his fresh ideas and sometimes consulted with him.

Defoe was a prolific and versatile writer, producing more than three hundred works[4]-books, pamphlets, and journals-on diverse topics, including politics, crime, religion, marriage, psychology, and the supernatural. He was also a pioneer of business journalism[5] and economic journalism.

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The iconic Robinson Crusoe and the real life events that inspired his story Almost everyone has heard of the story of Robinson Crusoe and his man Friday, whether they have actually read Defoe's book or not. Crusoe has been the subject of numerous films, television series and dramatisations. People might not, however, be aware that as a result of the success of the original book, Crusoe's fictional life and adventures became a trilogy. All three books appear in this unique Leonaur edition and readers can expect a gratifying helping of dark deeds at sea, marooning, fights for survival, battles with cannibals and many other exciting escapades. The final Defoe text has been carefully edited by Leonaur to remove ligatures and other archaic characters to make the it more readable and enjoyable for modern readers. Many who know of Crusoe's fictional adventures are aware that they were based on the real-life experiences of Alexander Selkirk. There have been several versions of his story published, but we have chosen the one we believe is the fullest and most accurate to include here to give readers an understanding of the reality that inspired Robinson Crusoe's fame. Leonaur editions are newly typeset and are not facsimiles; each title is available in softcover and hardback with dustjacket.