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Robinson Crusoe #2
The Further Adventures of Robinson Crusoe
The Farther Adventures of Robinson Crusoe (now more commonly rendered as The Further Adventures of Robinson Crusoe) is a novel by Daniel Defoe, first published in 1719. Like its significantly more popular predecessor, The Life and Strange Surprizing Adventures of Robinson Crusoe (1719), the first edition credits the work's fictional protagonist Robinson Crusoe as its author. It was published under the considerably longer original title: The Farther Adventures of Robinson Crusoe; Being the Second and Last Part of His Life, And of the Strange Surprising Accounts of his Travels Round three Parts of the Globe. Although intended to be the last Crusoe tale, the novel is followed by a non-fiction book involving Crusoe by Defoe entitled Serious Reflections During the Life and Surprising Adventures of Robinson Crusoe: With his Vision of the Angelick World (1720).
The story is speculated to be partially based on Moscow embassy secretary Adam Brand's journal detailing the embassy's journey from Moscow to Peking from 1693 to 1695.
The book starts with the statement about Crusoe's marriage in England. He bought a little farm in Bedford and had three children: two sons and one daughter. Our hero suffered a distemper and a desire to see "his island." He could talk of nothing else, and one can imagine that no one took his stories seriously, except his wife. She told him, in tears, "I will go with you, but I won't leave you." But in the middle of this felicity, Providence unhinged him at once, with the loss of his wife.
The story is speculated to be partially based on Moscow embassy secretary Adam Brand's journal detailing the embassy's journey from Moscow to Peking from 1693 to 1695.
The book starts with the statement about Crusoe's marriage in England. He bought a little farm in Bedford and had three children: two sons and one daughter. Our hero suffered a distemper and a desire to see "his island." He could talk of nothing else, and one can imagine that no one took his stories seriously, except his wife. She told him, in tears, "I will go with you, but I won't leave you." But in the middle of this felicity, Providence unhinged him at once, with the loss of his wife.
224 pages, Paperback
First published January 1, 1719
253 people are currently reading
3605 people want to read
About the author
Daniel Defoe
5,681 books1,994 followersDaniel Defoe was an English novelist, journalist, merchant, pamphleteer and spy. He is most famous for his novel Robinson Crusoe, published in 1719, which is claimed to be 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, 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 him.
Defoe was a prolific and versatile writer, producing more than three hundred works—books, pamphlets, and journals—on diverse topics, including politics, crime, religion, marriage, psychology and the supernatural. He was also a pioneer of business journalism and economic journalism.
Defoe was a prolific and versatile writer, producing more than three hundred works—books, pamphlets, and journals—on diverse topics, including politics, crime, religion, marriage, psychology and the supernatural. He was also a pioneer of business journalism and economic journalism.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 144 reviews
September 12, 2018
The second and less interesting book about the adventures of Robinson Crusoe. In this we find our hero in moments of family relaxation, which do not hold for long as something pushes him again in the quest for adventure. We can divide this quest into two parts.
In the first half of the book we find him returning to the place of his exile to see how things go and how its new inhabitants are doing. There he finds that if he excludes isolation, disputes between English and Spanish and the ongoing attacks of hundreds of bloodthirsty natives in search of ... protein, things do not go wrong. But this one that concerns him most is the lack of the Christian way of life, so he takes some unorthodox measures to correct this situation. This does not matter at all since the significance for him is the effect and this justifies it by speaking too much about the meaning of Christian faith. These developments give the writer the opportunity to use this small island as a miniature of the world, pointing to the differences that may arise, and how some things can unite the civilized people that have against them the barbarity. The latter is of course a sample of the racism of the time, and it is of particular interest to record these perceptions in the beginning of colonialism.
In the second half our hero goes to the Indian Ocean and meets many adventures that bring him to the Far East and other parts of Asia. Τhere he meet the profitable trade routes that brought the Europeans In these places, some confused situations and once again a multitude of outraged indigenous people who without a special reason - besides their barbarity - want to kill him but eventually manages to escape and live to tell the tale. This part is the least interesting, although I imagine that this literary journey to the ends of the earth would be particularly attractive to readers of its time, for the modern man, however, who knows better these areas and has a rather greater sensitivity to racism is not so much. It is, of course, particularly adventurous, and the writer certainly has an exciting writing that wins the reader's interest, but I feel that in the case of this book there were not many ideas left behind, resulting in repeatability.
An interesting book certainly, though obviously compared to the author's first masterpiece ... there is no comparison, but it certainly has its own virtues and of course his own weaknesses. Which of the two prevails is at the discretion of the reader. However, I certainly am satisfied with the first part I think is very substantial and it tells a few things to the reader and this I think makes this book to have its worth.
Το δεύτερο και λιγότερο ενδιαφέρον βιβλίο για τις περιπέτειες του Ροβινσώνα Κρούσου. Σε αυτό βρίσκουμε τον ήρωά μας σε στιγμές οικογενειακής χαλάρωσης, οι οποίες δεν κρατούνε για πολύ καθώς κάτι τον σπρώχνει πάλι στην αναζήτηση της περιπέτειας. Αυτή την αναζήτηση μπορούμε να τη χωρίσουμε σε δύο μέρη.
Στο πρώτο μισό του βιβλίου τον βρίσκουμε να επιστρέφει στον αλλοτινό τόπο της εξορίας του για να δει πώς πάνε τα πράγματα και πώς τα καταφέρνουν οι νέοι του κάτοικοι. Εκεί διαπιστώνει ότι αν εξαιρέσει την απομόνωση, τις διαμάχες μεταξύ Άγγλων και Ισπανών και τις συνεχόμενες επιθέσεις εκατοντάδων αιμοσταγών ιθαγενών σε αναζήτηση... πρωτεΐνης τα πράγματα δεν πάνε άσχημα. Αυτό, όμως, που τον απασχολεί περισσότερο είναι η έλλειψη του χριστιανικού τρόπου ζωής, για αυτό παίρνει μερικά ανορθόδοξα μέτρα για να διορθωθεί αυτή η κατάσταση. Αυτό δεν τον πειράζει καθόλου καθώς σημασία για αυτόν έχει το αποτέλεσμα και αυτό το δικαιολογεί μιλώντας πάρα πολύ για τη σημασία της Χριστιανικής πίστης. Αυτές οι εξελίξεις δίνουν την ευκαιρία στον συγγραφέα να χρησιμοποιήσει αυτό το μικρό νησί ως μία μικρογραφία του κόσμου, επισημαίνοντας τις διαφορές που μπορεί να προκύψουν αλλά και τον τρόπο κάποια πράγματα μπορούν να ενώσουν τους πολιτισμένους ανθρώπους που έχουν απέναντί τους τη βαρβαρότητα. Το τελευταίο είναι φυσικά ένα δείγμα του ρατσισμού της εποχής κι έχει ιδιαίτερο ενδιαφέρον η καταγραφή αυτών των αντιλήψεων στο ξεκίνημα της αποικιοκρατίας.
Στο δεύτερο μισό ο ήρωας μας περνάει προς τον ινδικό ωκεανό και συναντάει πολλές περιπέτειες που τον φέρνουν στην άπω Ανατολή και σε άλλες περιοχές της Ασίας. Εκεί συναντάει τις επικερδείς εμπορικές διαδρομές που έφεραν τους Ευρωπαίους σε αυτά τα μέρη, μερικές μπερδεμένες καταστάσεις και για άλλη μια φορά πλήθος εξοργισμένων ιθαγενών που χωρίς ιδιαίτερο λόγο - εκτός από τη βαρβαρότητα τους - θέλουν να τον σκοτώσουν αλλά τελικά καταφέρνει να ξεφύγει και ζει για να μας αφηγηθεί την ιστορία. Αυτό το μέρος είναι και το λιγότερο ενδιαφέρον, αν και φαντάζομαι στην εποχή του αυτό το λογοτεχνικό ταξίδι στα πέρατα της γης θα ήταν ιδιαίτερα ελκυστικό στους αναγνώστες, για τον σύγχρονο άνθρωπο, όμως, που γνωρίζει καλύτερα αυτές τις περιοχές και έχει μία μάλλον μεγαλύτερη ευαισθησία απέναντι στον ρατσισμό δεν είναι και τόσο. Είναι, φυσικά, ιδιαίτερα περιπετειώδες και ο συγγραφέας σίγουρα διαθέτει μία συναρπαστική γραφή που κερδίζει το ενδιαφέρον του αναγνώστη, νιώθω, όμως, ότι στην περίπτωση αυτού του βιβλίου δεν του είχαν απομείνει και πολλές ιδέες με αποτέλεσμα μία επαναληπτικότητα.
Ένα ενδιαφέρον βιβλίο σίγουρα, αν και προφανώς σε σύγκριση με το πρώτο αριστουργηματικό έργο του συγγραφέα... δεν υπάρχει σύγκριση, έχει, όμως, σίγουρα τις δικές του αρετές και φυσικά τις δικές του αδυναμίες. Τι από τα δυο επικρατεί είναι στην κρίση του αναγνώστη. Εγώ πάντως σίγουρα μένω ικανοποιημένος από το πρώτο μέρος νομίζω είναι ιδιαίτερα ουσιαστικό και λέει κάποια πράγματα στον αναγνώστη και αυτό νομίζω ότι κάνει αυτό το βιβλίο να έχει αξία.
In the first half of the book we find him returning to the place of his exile to see how things go and how its new inhabitants are doing. There he finds that if he excludes isolation, disputes between English and Spanish and the ongoing attacks of hundreds of bloodthirsty natives in search of ... protein, things do not go wrong. But this one that concerns him most is the lack of the Christian way of life, so he takes some unorthodox measures to correct this situation. This does not matter at all since the significance for him is the effect and this justifies it by speaking too much about the meaning of Christian faith. These developments give the writer the opportunity to use this small island as a miniature of the world, pointing to the differences that may arise, and how some things can unite the civilized people that have against them the barbarity. The latter is of course a sample of the racism of the time, and it is of particular interest to record these perceptions in the beginning of colonialism.
In the second half our hero goes to the Indian Ocean and meets many adventures that bring him to the Far East and other parts of Asia. Τhere he meet the profitable trade routes that brought the Europeans In these places, some confused situations and once again a multitude of outraged indigenous people who without a special reason - besides their barbarity - want to kill him but eventually manages to escape and live to tell the tale. This part is the least interesting, although I imagine that this literary journey to the ends of the earth would be particularly attractive to readers of its time, for the modern man, however, who knows better these areas and has a rather greater sensitivity to racism is not so much. It is, of course, particularly adventurous, and the writer certainly has an exciting writing that wins the reader's interest, but I feel that in the case of this book there were not many ideas left behind, resulting in repeatability.
An interesting book certainly, though obviously compared to the author's first masterpiece ... there is no comparison, but it certainly has its own virtues and of course his own weaknesses. Which of the two prevails is at the discretion of the reader. However, I certainly am satisfied with the first part I think is very substantial and it tells a few things to the reader and this I think makes this book to have its worth.
Το δεύτερο και λιγότερο ενδιαφέρον βιβλίο για τις περιπέτειες του Ροβινσώνα Κρούσου. Σε αυτό βρίσκουμε τον ήρωά μας σε στιγμές οικογενειακής χαλάρωσης, οι οποίες δεν κρατούνε για πολύ καθώς κάτι τον σπρώχνει πάλι στην αναζήτηση της περιπέτειας. Αυτή την αναζήτηση μπορούμε να τη χωρίσουμε σε δύο μέρη.
Στο πρώτο μισό του βιβλίου τον βρίσκουμε να επιστρέφει στον αλλοτινό τόπο της εξορίας του για να δει πώς πάνε τα πράγματα και πώς τα καταφέρνουν οι νέοι του κάτοικοι. Εκεί διαπιστώνει ότι αν εξαιρέσει την απομόνωση, τις διαμάχες μεταξύ Άγγλων και Ισπανών και τις συνεχόμενες επιθέσεις εκατοντάδων αιμοσταγών ιθαγενών σε αναζήτηση... πρωτεΐνης τα πράγματα δεν πάνε άσχημα. Αυτό, όμως, που τον απασχολεί περισσότερο είναι η έλλειψη του χριστιανικού τρόπου ζωής, για αυτό παίρνει μερικά ανορθόδοξα μέτρα για να διορθωθεί αυτή η κατάσταση. Αυτό δεν τον πειράζει καθόλου καθώς σημασία για αυτόν έχει το αποτέλεσμα και αυτό το δικαιολογεί μιλώντας πάρα πολύ για τη σημασία της Χριστιανικής πίστης. Αυτές οι εξελίξεις δίνουν την ευκαιρία στον συγγραφέα να χρησιμοποιήσει αυτό το μικρό νησί ως μία μικρογραφία του κόσμου, επισημαίνοντας τις διαφορές που μπορεί να προκύψουν αλλά και τον τρόπο κάποια πράγματα μπορούν να ενώσουν τους πολιτισμένους ανθρώπους που έχουν απέναντί τους τη βαρβαρότητα. Το τελευταίο είναι φυσικά ένα δείγμα του ρατσισμού της εποχής κι έχει ιδιαίτερο ενδιαφέρον η καταγραφή αυτών των αντιλήψεων στο ξεκίνημα της αποικιοκρατίας.
Στο δεύτερο μισό ο ήρωας μας περνάει προς τον ινδικό ωκεανό και συναντάει πολλές περιπέτειες που τον φέρνουν στην άπω Ανατολή και σε άλλες περιοχές της Ασίας. Εκεί συναντάει τις επικερδείς εμπορικές διαδρομές που έφεραν τους Ευρωπαίους σε αυτά τα μέρη, μερικές μπερδεμένες καταστάσεις και για άλλη μια φορά πλήθος εξοργισμένων ιθαγενών που χωρίς ιδιαίτερο λόγο - εκτός από τη βαρβαρότητα τους - θέλουν να τον σκοτώσουν αλλά τελικά καταφέρνει να ξεφύγει και ζει για να μας αφηγηθεί την ιστορία. Αυτό το μέρος είναι και το λιγότερο ενδιαφέρον, αν και φαντάζομαι στην εποχή του αυτό το λογοτεχνικό ταξίδι στα πέρατα της γης θα ήταν ιδιαίτερα ελκυστικό στους αναγνώστες, για τον σύγχρονο άνθρωπο, όμως, που γνωρίζει καλύτερα αυτές τις περιοχές και έχει μία μάλλον μεγαλύτερη ευαισθησία απέναντι στον ρατσισμό δεν είναι και τόσο. Είναι, φυσικά, ιδιαίτερα περιπετειώδες και ο συγγραφέας σίγουρα διαθέτει μία συναρπαστική γραφή που κερδίζει το ενδιαφέρον του αναγνώστη, νιώθω, όμως, ότι στην περίπτωση αυτού του βιβλίου δεν του είχαν απομείνει και πολλές ιδέες με αποτέλεσμα μία επαναληπτικότητα.
Ένα ενδιαφέρον βιβλίο σίγουρα, αν και προφανώς σε σύγκριση με το πρώτο αριστουργηματικό έργο του συγγραφέα... δεν υπάρχει σύγκριση, έχει, όμως, σίγουρα τις δικές του αρετές και φυσικά τις δικές του αδυναμίες. Τι από τα δυο επικρατεί είναι στην κρίση του αναγνώστη. Εγώ πάντως σίγουρα μένω ικανοποιημένος από το πρώτο μέρος νομίζω είναι ιδιαίτερα ουσιαστικό και λέει κάποια πράγματα στον αναγνώστη και αυτό νομίζω ότι κάνει αυτό το βιβλίο να έχει αξία.
November 8, 2023
Wow! What a terrible book! I started reading The Farther Adventures without having actually read the first book in the series, Robinson Crusoe (cannot say that I am very motivated to pick it up now), so, understandably, this book was quite the surprise in every possible way. The story picks up with Robinson stuck in England, wallowing over his "glory" days of "adventures" in an island far far away. This yearning soon throws him into the inside of a boat, departing to Asia via Brazil. Throughout his trips he meets new people, travels through new and exotic countries, and goes on incredible adventures!
What adventures you ask? Well, here's a non exhaustive list of all that Robinson and his merry little band of assholes were up to:
1. Trading slaves! (is it trading if they were offered? I guess that's not the point.)
2. Burning of sacred imagery!
3. Murder!
4. Forced marriage!
5. Trading slaves, then force marrying them!
6. Pillaging!
7. Rape!
8. Genocide!
9. Rape, followed by genocide!
And all this while preaching to those "savage heathens" about the good morals of the Catholic Church, about the merciful and loving God!
But seriously, a lot of preaching. He's not just trying to convert the heathens, he almost converted me too (not really).
There are a couple of reasons why this doesn't get a one star rating, though. The first is that I must confess I was mildly curious as to what kind of buffoonery these absolute shitstain human beings were going to be doing next. The second is that it is pretty interesting as historic evidence of a (fortunately) long dead moral system, based on an ethnocentric view of the supposed superiority of the European race. It is still a pretty dreadful book, so unless you have a personal interest on how the 18th century asshole thinks, I suggest you skip it.
What adventures you ask? Well, here's a non exhaustive list of all that Robinson and his merry little band of assholes were up to:
1. Trading slaves! (is it trading if they were offered? I guess that's not the point.)
2. Burning of sacred imagery!
3. Murder!
4. Forced marriage!
5. Trading slaves, then force marrying them!
6. Pillaging!
7. Rape!
8. Genocide!
9. Rape, followed by genocide!
And all this while preaching to those "savage heathens" about the good morals of the Catholic Church, about the merciful and loving God!
But seriously, a lot of preaching. He's not just trying to convert the heathens, he almost converted me too (not really).
There are a couple of reasons why this doesn't get a one star rating, though. The first is that I must confess I was mildly curious as to what kind of buffoonery these absolute shitstain human beings were going to be doing next. The second is that it is pretty interesting as historic evidence of a (fortunately) long dead moral system, based on an ethnocentric view of the supposed superiority of the European race. It is still a pretty dreadful book, so unless you have a personal interest on how the 18th century asshole thinks, I suggest you skip it.
January 15, 2020
I mostly skimmed this book. It's not that interesting. If you liked the first book read this, but if you only kinda liked the first book or thought it was ok, I wouldn't recommend this book.
April 16, 2021
Знаехте ли, че освен добре познатата класика „Робинзон Крузо” на Даниъл Дефо има продължение? А знаехте ли, че то най-накрая излиза за първи път и на български език? „По-нататъшните приключения на Робинзон Крузо” (изд. „Изток-Запад”, прев. Огняна Иванова) е любопитно безспорно четиво - както за почитателите на приключенския жанр, така и за всички онези, които искат да се докоснат до роман на повече от триста години и да опознаят по-добре духа и нравите от ерата на колониализма. Прочетете ревюто на „Книжни Криле”: https://knijnikrile.wordpress.com/202...
June 8, 2016
Why did Robinson choose to leave behind his children? Their mother had just died, and he decides to go on another adventure? Why did he leave them in the care of an old woman who might die at any moment? Why can't he provide for them like a normal father would? We don't even know how his wife died because he neglects to tell us; all he says is that she died. Robinson goes back to the island he lived on for 28 years to visit it and the island's inhabitants. He brings his sidekick Friday with him and Friday is reunited with his father again. Robinson talks a lot about Will Atkins, one of the Englishmen who lives on the island; Will was part of the mutiny that took place in the first book. With the help of a priest, Robinson helps Will and others become Christians. Will was a horrible person, but he redeems himself. Will and his fellow Englishmen wed savages illegally (in the eyes of God) so the priest marries the couples legally. This book was more violent than the first one. There are some really horrible men Robinson is traveling with who murder people because they want revenge. Robinson refuses to take part in the revenge killings and is offended by the actions of these men.
March 14, 2015
I cannot say too much about this book without sounding as whiny as Robinson himself does in these pages. I was curious to see what kind of adventures he would have when he set off from his farm at the age of 60 or 62, but I had to slog through 8 chapters before he actually started having adventures himself instead of simply relating everything that had happened to the Spaniards and Englishmen he had left on his island.
Even then most of his 'adventures' were caused by his own judgmental attitude towards the people of China and Russia, especially when he destroyed what was to him a heathen idol but to the people was a god. You just don't do such things and expect to get away without some sort of bloody battle, Robinson. Quite frankly, I wanted to smack him upside the head more than once during this book. He was a much nicer guy when he was alone on his island.
Even then most of his 'adventures' were caused by his own judgmental attitude towards the people of China and Russia, especially when he destroyed what was to him a heathen idol but to the people was a god. You just don't do such things and expect to get away without some sort of bloody battle, Robinson. Quite frankly, I wanted to smack him upside the head more than once during this book. He was a much nicer guy when he was alone on his island.
October 5, 2008
Like most sequels, not quite up to the standards of the first tale.
November 27, 2018
This is the first sequel to "Robinson Crusoe".
(I found out yesterday, there was a second sequel, "Serious Reflections ... " (link - I haven't read the second sequel yet.)
Although this book was still very readable, to me, it felt just a bit more stilted than the first did. I don't know if this was a function of the much more varied adventures that this book tracks, or if Defoe was trying to 'answer' his critics from his first volume, or if maybe he was just a bit more full of himself due to the success of the first "Robinson Crusoe" ;-), or maybe something else altogether, or maybe not at all, and it was just my lessened interest in his later travels, than in the castaway on the island story, who knows.
In any event, I loved the first, and am glad I read the second, particularly since it revisits the island, and checks in with the island, and ties up loose islands left from the first book.
Still a good adventure yarn, but you know, not the same. Plus he really REALLY is not a fan of the Chinese, Mogul Tartars, Russian Christians (most of them), or the Philippines.
-----------------------
For housekeeping reasons, and to keep the versions straight, I read:
- this kindle edition - https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/1...
(contains just the first book, includes Crusoe's return to England)
- and this kindle edition - https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/1...
(ASIN #B0084BJ6WK, contains both books, and an Introduction, or Preface, by someone who signs it "G.D."; this book includes Crusoe's return to England.)
- this hardcover edition - https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/3...
(contains just the first book, an Illustrator's Preface, and fabulous full-page illustrations by N.C. Wyeth; this book stops as Crusoe boards the boat to England, doesn't include his return to England)
- this audiobook cd edition - https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/6...
(narrated by Ron Keith, who was fabulous; this book includes Crusoe's return to England. It also includes an internal debate about Roman Catholicism and the Spanish Inquisition, which was absent from the three other versions of the original book, which was interesting!)
---> (the subject of this review) and then, this kindle edition - https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/1...
(which contains only the sequel, not the original book, nor any extras)
.
-----------------------
And continuing, I plan to read:
- this hardcover edition of a book with the same title, but by a different author! (by Henry Treece) - https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/2...
(which I accidentally checked out from the library, who borrowed it for me from another library, thinking it was Defoe's book, and not noticing the different author; I feel obligated to read it :D ... plus, it sounds pretty good. I have it on loan from the library now.)
- and also this hardcover edition (by Robert Kraske) - https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/4...
(which is a book about the life of Alexander Selkirk, who really did live on an abandoned island (for 4 years), and upon whose experiences Defoe may have based "Robinson Crusoe" on; this book is written for children, and skips over some of the seedier rumors associated with Selkirk. I also have this one on loan from the library now.)
- and perhaps this title (by Diana Souhami) - https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/4...
(which is also a book about the life of Alexander Selkirk; this book however, is not written for children, and covers the seedier rumors about Selkirk. We'll see, I may be ready to move on to "Treasure Island" by then ;-). I don't have this title on loan from the library now, nor do I have it on hold, it is on my 'For Later' shelf tho ... )
- but definitely (plan to read) this title (by Daniel Defoe) - https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/8...
(which is Defoe's 2nd sequel to "Robinson Crusoe", written years later; I have this book on hold, 'in transit' at my library (they are borrowing it from another library, for me.)
- and then, lastly!, this hardcover edition (by J.M. Coatzee) - https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/5...
(written by a Nobel Laureate, it is a modern retelling/reinvention of the story of "Robinson Crusoe"; I have this book on loan from the library, right now, as well. )
Time to get to reading! *grin*
.
(I found out yesterday, there was a second sequel, "Serious Reflections ... " (link - I haven't read the second sequel yet.)
Although this book was still very readable, to me, it felt just a bit more stilted than the first did. I don't know if this was a function of the much more varied adventures that this book tracks, or if Defoe was trying to 'answer' his critics from his first volume, or if maybe he was just a bit more full of himself due to the success of the first "Robinson Crusoe" ;-), or maybe something else altogether, or maybe not at all, and it was just my lessened interest in his later travels, than in the castaway on the island story, who knows.
In any event, I loved the first, and am glad I read the second, particularly since it revisits the island, and checks in with the island, and ties up loose islands left from the first book.
Still a good adventure yarn, but you know, not the same. Plus he really REALLY is not a fan of the Chinese, Mogul Tartars, Russian Christians (most of them), or the Philippines.
-----------------------
For housekeeping reasons, and to keep the versions straight, I read:
- this kindle edition - https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/1...
(contains just the first book, includes Crusoe's return to England)
- and this kindle edition - https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/1...
(ASIN #B0084BJ6WK, contains both books, and an Introduction, or Preface, by someone who signs it "G.D."; this book includes Crusoe's return to England.)
- this hardcover edition - https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/3...
(contains just the first book, an Illustrator's Preface, and fabulous full-page illustrations by N.C. Wyeth; this book stops as Crusoe boards the boat to England, doesn't include his return to England)
- this audiobook cd edition - https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/6...
(narrated by Ron Keith, who was fabulous; this book includes Crusoe's return to England. It also includes an internal debate about Roman Catholicism and the Spanish Inquisition, which was absent from the three other versions of the original book, which was interesting!)
---> (the subject of this review) and then, this kindle edition - https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/1...
(which contains only the sequel, not the original book, nor any extras)
.
-----------------------
And continuing, I plan to read:
- this hardcover edition of a book with the same title, but by a different author! (by Henry Treece) - https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/2...
(which I accidentally checked out from the library, who borrowed it for me from another library, thinking it was Defoe's book, and not noticing the different author; I feel obligated to read it :D ... plus, it sounds pretty good. I have it on loan from the library now.)
- and also this hardcover edition (by Robert Kraske) - https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/4...
(which is a book about the life of Alexander Selkirk, who really did live on an abandoned island (for 4 years), and upon whose experiences Defoe may have based "Robinson Crusoe" on; this book is written for children, and skips over some of the seedier rumors associated with Selkirk. I also have this one on loan from the library now.)
- and perhaps this title (by Diana Souhami) - https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/4...
(which is also a book about the life of Alexander Selkirk; this book however, is not written for children, and covers the seedier rumors about Selkirk. We'll see, I may be ready to move on to "Treasure Island" by then ;-). I don't have this title on loan from the library now, nor do I have it on hold, it is on my 'For Later' shelf tho ... )
- but definitely (plan to read) this title (by Daniel Defoe) - https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/8...
(which is Defoe's 2nd sequel to "Robinson Crusoe", written years later; I have this book on hold, 'in transit' at my library (they are borrowing it from another library, for me.)
- and then, lastly!, this hardcover edition (by J.M. Coatzee) - https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/5...
(written by a Nobel Laureate, it is a modern retelling/reinvention of the story of "Robinson Crusoe"; I have this book on loan from the library, right now, as well. )
Time to get to reading! *grin*
.
October 27, 2013
The further adventures of Robinson Crusoe
(audio book)
In this book Robinson is back in his home country, England, but now seeks yet more adventures. He wants to go back to his previously discovered island in order to help the people that live there So he takes passage on his nephew's ship to help thes one left on his island. While he was gone, a Portugese individual he met After learning the story of the people he left on the island and giving them extra supplies. He gathers goods in Brazil, then not to far away from Brazil the ship was invaded by a army of savages,they where hostile and shot a cloud of arrows killing Robinson's companion Friday. Robinson goes to Madagascar with more hostile tribes. so the sailor men burn the city to the ground,Robinson Crusoe also when to Russia and china while returning to england.
The main theme this book is about giving back from what was given to you. Why? Because if Robinson Crusoe did not do this many lives would have been lost at sea. He rescued a distressed ship and helped the priest on board the ship to convert everyone to Christianity because if they where not Christians Robinson was not sure what evil deeds they would do to one another.
I recommend this book for who people that like stories about man vs nature, adventure, and classic English. What makes this book even better is that the author, Danell Defoe, keeps you glued to the book because the plot he made is prefect to any one who reads this book. If you have not read the first book I recommend you do that before reading this book.
(audio book)
In this book Robinson is back in his home country, England, but now seeks yet more adventures. He wants to go back to his previously discovered island in order to help the people that live there So he takes passage on his nephew's ship to help thes one left on his island. While he was gone, a Portugese individual he met After learning the story of the people he left on the island and giving them extra supplies. He gathers goods in Brazil, then not to far away from Brazil the ship was invaded by a army of savages,they where hostile and shot a cloud of arrows killing Robinson's companion Friday. Robinson goes to Madagascar with more hostile tribes. so the sailor men burn the city to the ground,Robinson Crusoe also when to Russia and china while returning to england.
The main theme this book is about giving back from what was given to you. Why? Because if Robinson Crusoe did not do this many lives would have been lost at sea. He rescued a distressed ship and helped the priest on board the ship to convert everyone to Christianity because if they where not Christians Robinson was not sure what evil deeds they would do to one another.
I recommend this book for who people that like stories about man vs nature, adventure, and classic English. What makes this book even better is that the author, Danell Defoe, keeps you glued to the book because the plot he made is prefect to any one who reads this book. If you have not read the first book I recommend you do that before reading this book.
March 24, 2010
From librivox.org. Interesting further tales of Mr. Crusoe but not as exciting as his first adventure. Interesting look into the morale and religious aspects of the times.
January 15, 2016
Focus on the Family Great Stories edition, introduction and afterword by Joe Wheeler.
Defoe published the followup to his best-seller Robinson Crusoe just five months after the first book hit the streets, in a surprisingly modern marketing effort to cash in on the name recognition. Surprisingly modern, that is, given that both books were published in 1719, just one hundred years after Shakespeare and the King James Version of the Bible set the standard for the English language for the next 300 years.
In some ways more interesting than the original, the "farther adventures" (my son pointed out the subtle play on words in the title that I had not noticed!) allows Defoe to set up some new scenarios: women and "savages" have been introduced into his paradise, giving him the opportunity to write about salvation and missionary zeal. Of course since Defoe seemed to delight in contrarian views, he embodies the missionary zeal in the body of a French Catholic priest, in sharp contrast to his non-Conformist Protestantism. Defoe resolves the problem in strikingly modern terms pleasing to the true Biblical view.
Which makes his later section on the destruction of an idol during the march through the frozen tundra between China and Russia, while the idol's followers are forced to watch bound and gagged but with NO attempt on the part of Crusoe to witness to them, all the more surprising. Even worse, when the caravan is confronted by the people's government and asked to reveal and turn over the culprits, is Crusoe's silent sin of omission that put the whole caravan of hundreds of people in danger.
In all, the "farther adventures" are a fascinating artifact of history, a readable novel, and an interesting study in western missionary philosophy.
Defoe published the followup to his best-seller Robinson Crusoe just five months after the first book hit the streets, in a surprisingly modern marketing effort to cash in on the name recognition. Surprisingly modern, that is, given that both books were published in 1719, just one hundred years after Shakespeare and the King James Version of the Bible set the standard for the English language for the next 300 years.
In some ways more interesting than the original, the "farther adventures" (my son pointed out the subtle play on words in the title that I had not noticed!) allows Defoe to set up some new scenarios: women and "savages" have been introduced into his paradise, giving him the opportunity to write about salvation and missionary zeal. Of course since Defoe seemed to delight in contrarian views, he embodies the missionary zeal in the body of a French Catholic priest, in sharp contrast to his non-Conformist Protestantism. Defoe resolves the problem in strikingly modern terms pleasing to the true Biblical view.
Which makes his later section on the destruction of an idol during the march through the frozen tundra between China and Russia, while the idol's followers are forced to watch bound and gagged but with NO attempt on the part of Crusoe to witness to them, all the more surprising. Even worse, when the caravan is confronted by the people's government and asked to reveal and turn over the culprits, is Crusoe's silent sin of omission that put the whole caravan of hundreds of people in danger.
In all, the "farther adventures" are a fascinating artifact of history, a readable novel, and an interesting study in western missionary philosophy.
July 13, 2025
The mad colonizer's adventures continue. This time he puts on a merchant's hat and heads to the East. On his way to the glory,
- he participates in tit-for-tat fighting and a resulting massacre of the Malagasy
- then instigates a pagan revolt in the Russian hinterland by desecrating a local idol
- and consequently hides from the ensuing retaliation while threatening his fellow travelers at the hands of the angered heathen army.
- he participates in tit-for-tat fighting and a resulting massacre of the Malagasy
- then instigates a pagan revolt in the Russian hinterland by desecrating a local idol
- and consequently hides from the ensuing retaliation while threatening his fellow travelers at the hands of the angered heathen army.
February 15, 2011
I loved Robinson Crusoe, the book before this one. It may be dry, but I found the concept and the way in which Crusoe survived and organized his life fascinating. I assumed I would enjoy this book just as much. I tried reading it twice, making it pretty far but could not get interested. This book has nothing going for it and did not seem worth reading to me.
May 30, 2019
This felt like a huge waste of time!
I enjoyed the first Robinson Crusoe novel but this was literally just him talking about how he hates everyone who isn't a white Christian for the whole novel. Don't recommend.
I enjoyed the first Robinson Crusoe novel but this was literally just him talking about how he hates everyone who isn't a white Christian for the whole novel. Don't recommend.
September 1, 2017
I really enjoyed the first book, but this was the same stuff over and over.
September 11, 2019
Bir cocuk kitabi olarak cok fazla irkcilik ve vahset iceriyor.
August 15, 2023
Compared to the first volume, a little less on practicalities and more on civilising the savage to Christianity, which was a bit of a bore, but still very interesting and indicative of the times.
On the quality of this edition though, absolute rubbish, and I nearly went blind reading its tiny font. A decent edition of this book should be about three hundred pages and this was crammed into 158. Sadly these print on demand copies of work free of copyright don't get a lot of editing for quality, I don't think.
On the quality of this edition though, absolute rubbish, and I nearly went blind reading its tiny font. A decent edition of this book should be about three hundred pages and this was crammed into 158. Sadly these print on demand copies of work free of copyright don't get a lot of editing for quality, I don't think.
December 27, 2023
Очень высокомерная книга!!! Мне неприятно было читать, да и скучно тоже.
February 3, 2020
Yes, there was a sequel to The Life and Strange Surprizing Adventures of Robinson Crusoe. Not many people seem to read it, although it's not uncommon for the two books to be combined in one volume. The Farther Adventures of Robinson Crusoe came out later the same year (1719) and follows Crusoe's return the island, where he learns the fate of the English mutineers he left there and the Spanish castaways who joined them, as well as his subsequent adventures in Africa, Asia, and Russia.
The first part is honestly what I was most interested in. The bulk of it is the English ruffians and the Spanish fighting both each other and marauding cannibals. (Note: there is no archaeological evidence of cannibalism in the Caribbean and the indigenous peoples there have no oral history of such practices.) There's a lot of action and excitement involved, but what I really wanted to know more about were the "wives" the English men took from a neighboring tribe. Defoe's perspective here is weird. The women clearly had no choice in the matter: they were rescued prisoners and each man literally just chose the one he liked. Defoe (through Crusoe) admits the men were masters rather than husbands and his Treatise Concerning the Use and Abuse of the Marriage Bed explicitly opposes forced marriage and acknowledges that it's rape ("ravishment"). Yet a priest finally performs proper marriages and Will Akins gets born again and converts his wife to Christianity, so I guess it's supposed to be okay now? There's a whole other story here, but as with Friday's time in England, Defoe sadly does not expand on it.
Rape rears its ugly head again in Madagascar when a member of Crusoe's ship's crew drags off a local girl and is executed by the natives in retribution. They are subsequently massacred by the sailors over Crusoe's objections. Here Defoe has no problem calling a spade a spade and it's one of the few times Crusoe is ever in the right by today's standards. The whole thing is downright horrifying even with Defoe's stuffy, convoluted prose.
Defoe's writing unfortunately does drag down most of the book. Farther Adventures is certainly much more eventful than its predecessor, which is mostly Crusoe chilling on his island, but I suppose even in that era other people had written better adventure narratives. The imperialism, white supremacy, and Christian fanaticism that colored portions of the first book are dialed up to eleven here and pretty much dominate the entire second half. Crusoe frequently proclaims the civilizing effects of Christianity with no irony whatsoever, despite what happened in Madagascar and his own reaction to his countrymen's violence. His pure rage towards the existence of other races and creeds is straight out of the nightmares of H.P. Lovecraft. Given Crusoe's preexisting megalomaniac tendencies (he loves it when people are beholden to him for his generosity, Friday's case being the most egregious), I felt like I was reading Kurtz's origin story.
Honestly, I think the sequel is only worth reading for the updates on the island. The rest . . . blech.
Note: The Return of Robinson Crusoe by Henry Treece is another sequel written in the 1950s. It's mostly a children's pirate story but Friday's character is fleshed out considerably and given a much larger role. I liked that one better.
The first part is honestly what I was most interested in. The bulk of it is the English ruffians and the Spanish fighting both each other and marauding cannibals. (Note: there is no archaeological evidence of cannibalism in the Caribbean and the indigenous peoples there have no oral history of such practices.) There's a lot of action and excitement involved, but what I really wanted to know more about were the "wives" the English men took from a neighboring tribe. Defoe's perspective here is weird. The women clearly had no choice in the matter: they were rescued prisoners and each man literally just chose the one he liked. Defoe (through Crusoe) admits the men were masters rather than husbands and his Treatise Concerning the Use and Abuse of the Marriage Bed explicitly opposes forced marriage and acknowledges that it's rape ("ravishment"). Yet a priest finally performs proper marriages and Will Akins gets born again and converts his wife to Christianity, so I guess it's supposed to be okay now? There's a whole other story here, but as with Friday's time in England, Defoe sadly does not expand on it.
Rape rears its ugly head again in Madagascar when a member of Crusoe's ship's crew drags off a local girl and is executed by the natives in retribution. They are subsequently massacred by the sailors over Crusoe's objections. Here Defoe has no problem calling a spade a spade and it's one of the few times Crusoe is ever in the right by today's standards. The whole thing is downright horrifying even with Defoe's stuffy, convoluted prose.
Defoe's writing unfortunately does drag down most of the book. Farther Adventures is certainly much more eventful than its predecessor, which is mostly Crusoe chilling on his island, but I suppose even in that era other people had written better adventure narratives. The imperialism, white supremacy, and Christian fanaticism that colored portions of the first book are dialed up to eleven here and pretty much dominate the entire second half. Crusoe frequently proclaims the civilizing effects of Christianity with no irony whatsoever, despite what happened in Madagascar and his own reaction to his countrymen's violence. His pure rage towards the existence of other races and creeds is straight out of the nightmares of H.P. Lovecraft. Given Crusoe's preexisting megalomaniac tendencies (he loves it when people are beholden to him for his generosity, Friday's case being the most egregious), I felt like I was reading Kurtz's origin story.
Honestly, I think the sequel is only worth reading for the updates on the island. The rest . . . blech.
Note: The Return of Robinson Crusoe by Henry Treece is another sequel written in the 1950s. It's mostly a children's pirate story but Friday's character is fleshed out considerably and given a much larger role. I liked that one better.
November 9, 2012
This second book was not as good as the first one, but still an enjoyable read, with a few exceptions here and there. First of all, it was not as fascinating and as captivating as the first one and, never having enjoyed that one's ending, this one's beginning was on the same level. I enjoy reading about travelling almost as much as I like doing it myself, so that part of the book was probably the only thing that kept me interested until the end.
The second thing that bothered me about this book was the ignorant remarks about religion. To be more specific, I didn't like the fact that other religions were put down for being ignorant, superstitious and so on, and the so-called true religion was held high along with its true god which managed to be worshipped without being an idol, like the rest of the man made gods were thought to be. Pretty hypocritical and I think the period of time (not really so much different than our own when it comes to creeds and other delusions) in which it was written had a lot of influence on this particular aspect of the book, as well as the author's prejudices and limitations and, most important, my own, which is as likely to make me receive it in this manner. Robinson Crusoe might just be a realistic character with biases, prejudices and plenty of ignorance, but that still doesn't make me like that part about him or the novel where so much accent is put upon the true faith and such.
I wouldn't recommend this book to everyone and I only read it out of curiosity. I thought maybe Robinson Crusoe finally learns what I thought he should have learned during his stay on the island but there are only brief mentionings of individual freedom and such. He's an interesting character only because Defoe took him all over the world, but that's all.
The second thing that bothered me about this book was the ignorant remarks about religion. To be more specific, I didn't like the fact that other religions were put down for being ignorant, superstitious and so on, and the so-called true religion was held high along with its true god which managed to be worshipped without being an idol, like the rest of the man made gods were thought to be. Pretty hypocritical and I think the period of time (not really so much different than our own when it comes to creeds and other delusions) in which it was written had a lot of influence on this particular aspect of the book, as well as the author's prejudices and limitations and, most important, my own, which is as likely to make me receive it in this manner. Robinson Crusoe might just be a realistic character with biases, prejudices and plenty of ignorance, but that still doesn't make me like that part about him or the novel where so much accent is put upon the true faith and such.
I wouldn't recommend this book to everyone and I only read it out of curiosity. I thought maybe Robinson Crusoe finally learns what I thought he should have learned during his stay on the island but there are only brief mentionings of individual freedom and such. He's an interesting character only because Defoe took him all over the world, but that's all.
September 21, 2017
Ehh, well, what can I say? It began with huge potential based on the success of Robinson Crusoe, but, never followed through. In essence if was two books rolled into one; Robison Crusoe - what happened to the islanders and, lets 'try' to write a seperate travel novel.
If began with a mix similar to Gullivers Travels and Swiss Family Robison, heavily religious base looking at the morals or Christianity and Protestantism's merits ocer Catholicism and converting nine believers, turn the page, everything's ended, all the characters have find and he decides t write a brand new novel two thirds of the way in.
The last third of the novel wasn't half bad, mediocre at best, where Tolstoy, Checkhov and Turgenev so wonderfully depict the beauty and splendour of the Russian landscape, its people's, villages and regions, this book fails in every single way.
Most definitely written in the success of the first novel, but, never re captures its essence.
If began with a mix similar to Gullivers Travels and Swiss Family Robison, heavily religious base looking at the morals or Christianity and Protestantism's merits ocer Catholicism and converting nine believers, turn the page, everything's ended, all the characters have find and he decides t write a brand new novel two thirds of the way in.
The last third of the novel wasn't half bad, mediocre at best, where Tolstoy, Checkhov and Turgenev so wonderfully depict the beauty and splendour of the Russian landscape, its people's, villages and regions, this book fails in every single way.
Most definitely written in the success of the first novel, but, never re captures its essence.
August 12, 2018
OK, the title says “The further ADVENTURES”, so the book does not necessary mean about the island he left…
This book is mostly about his journey, and I am sure everyone wants to read about the island, not his journey…
In the first book, Robinson’s lifestyle and thoughts are the main story, and I expected the same in the second book, but, alas…! I wanted to read about day to day living of Spanish and English, rather than their troubles, especially now, women were on the island, and their house keeping would have been more interesting, like how they gave birth, how they fed children etc…
But, before I started reading it, I knew this is not going to be as good as the first, because when there are more than one person, there has to be a leadership, hence the beginning of politics. The charm of story (survival skill) is lost…
This book is mostly about his journey, and I am sure everyone wants to read about the island, not his journey…
In the first book, Robinson’s lifestyle and thoughts are the main story, and I expected the same in the second book, but, alas…! I wanted to read about day to day living of Spanish and English, rather than their troubles, especially now, women were on the island, and their house keeping would have been more interesting, like how they gave birth, how they fed children etc…
But, before I started reading it, I knew this is not going to be as good as the first, because when there are more than one person, there has to be a leadership, hence the beginning of politics. The charm of story (survival skill) is lost…
July 12, 2019
Compared to the first part, this part was slightly less interesting. Partly because it had a less clear objective for going through the adventures he was going through, because they were not new. And partly because it dealt a little bit more with securing property and a little bit less with the curious ways of the 'savages'. I do recognize these are individual preferences, but this is my review ;)
Lastly I was astonished to find that the author, through the mouth of the protagonist expressed so negative an opinion and so low an esteem of the Chinese culture and civilization, that I sat gaping at hearing it as I listened to the audiobook. Wow! That was probably the most ignorant rant concerning the development of Chinese culture/society.
Lastly I was astonished to find that the author, through the mouth of the protagonist expressed so negative an opinion and so low an esteem of the Chinese culture and civilization, that I sat gaping at hearing it as I listened to the audiobook. Wow! That was probably the most ignorant rant concerning the development of Chinese culture/society.
December 17, 2014
This is a very good book in my opinion there are so many different events that change the fate of Mr. Robinson Crusoe. He has gone through so many things in his lifetime he has been in two shipwrecks and also he has been a slave to his master in Europe. He had also been on an island for twenty seven years of his life. HE has saved a slave from the Foreign people he would see every other year on the island. Ir is amazing all of the things that this man can do by himself for that long period of time. It is very sad when all of his friends and family start to die around him in the story.
April 8, 2011
Written in much the same style the original Robinson Crusoe. It was not as easy to maintain interest though as well over half of the novel was given over to Robinson Crusoe describing the experiences of others as related to him. Friday does not have much a role here and the author kills him off in a rather casual manner. Robinson Crusoe is also revealed to be something of a Christian religious fanatic.
July 18, 2019
This is my kids rating it (they rate everything 5 stars, such easily amused guys). I never even knew there is this sequel to the classic I was read by my dad 35 years ago. Well, it is now quite obvious why this part never copied the success of the part on the island. This is even more openly heralding the onset of the corporate, business world that was to change our planet forever (sadly, now we can see, for the worse).
March 17, 2018
O altă carte de care m-am bucurat în copilărie și care, aventuroasă și exotică, a fost o bună demonstrație a cât de departe te poate face să ajungi literatura. Cu ochi de matur, recitind-o, m-am concentrat, evident, pe alte aspecte. Însă pe la 13-14 ani copiii o văd ca pe o pură aventură: un excelent film de acțiune curgând natural din forța suspansului.
September 8, 2019
It is not only the story of a man but also the story of the human kind . The Characters are perfectly designed. The inner thoughts of Crusoe alter with the events of the story. It reveals the imperialism and the racism of the European men in that period of time it also talks about the issues of religion and parents obedience from a religious point of view.
August 16, 2019
More of an adventure story than its predecessor, Robinson Crusoe. Less philosophical, but very enjoyable, nonetheless. It's a shame the story is less well-known. If you like Robert Louis Stevenson and Jules Verne, you'll enjoy the Further Adventures of Robinson Crusoe.
March 19, 2022
Without the survival aspects, this sequel is decent, but not amazing. In the first book, Robinson Crusoe's desire to travel and his daftness towards sound advice were all characteristic of hard-headed youth. It's relatable because we've all been rebellious to some degree. However, when you're 62, you really shouldn't be so stupid and unwise anymore. There is great character development for Will Atkins and there is a cast of colorful characters, but perhaps Crusoe himself is too calcified to change and his narration no longer feels as fresh. Thankfully, this sequel wrapped up all the loose ends from the first book, so it was still enjoyable to read.
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