Daniel Defoe in Context

Provides comprehensive contexts for Defoe's voluminous fiction, non-fiction, and poetry in short, readable essays by leading scholars.

Albert J. Rivero (Edited by), George Justice (Edited by)

9781108836715, Cambridge University Press

Hardback, published 11 May 2023

434 pages
23.5 x 15.8 x 2.9 cm, 0.78 kg

'Students and Crusoe enthusiasts can select and sample ad libitum, for almost every imaginable topic is here represented … Wherever we turn in this volume there is fantastic paradox and inconsistency of the kind you might expect from a man racking his brain to earn his bread.' Min Wild, TLS

Innovative in its structure and approach, Daniel Defoe in Context contains 42 essays by leading scholars illuminating the life, times, and world of Daniel Defoe. Defoe is one of the most important literary figures in English history, thanks not only to his pioneering novels Robinson Crusoe and Moll Flanders, but also to his notable works in journalism, travel writing, conduct literature, and verse, both satiric and serious. Written with general readers and students in mind, the essays in this volume provide up-to-date knowledge about eighteenth-century literature, culture, and history in a high quality, clearly written, but completely accessible form. Together they demonstrate the ways not only in which Defoe's world shaped his writing, but also in which Defoe's writings profoundly affected his world, and therefore our world.

Part I. Life and Works: 1. Defoe the writer John Richetti
2. Defoe's connections Brian Cowan
3. Family life and inner life Maximillian E. Novak
4. Correspondence Louise Curran
5. Editions Cynthia Wall
Part II. Literary Context: 6. Defoe and the novel Stephanie Insley Hershinow
7. Defoe and popular fiction Paul Baines
8. Verse and verse satire Pat Rogers
9. Memories and memorials: factual genres in A Journal of the Plague Year Barbara M. Benedict
10. Periodicals, news and journalism Darryl P. Domingo
11. Pornography Hal Gladfelder
12. Defoe and popular religious writing Penny Pritchard
13. Theatre and the novel Laura J. Rosenthal
14. The philosophical tradition Ryan Patrick Hanley
Part III. Authorship and Copyright: 15. Censorship Aaron R. Hanlon
16. Professional authorship J. A. Downie
17. Digital defoe Hilary Havens
18. Anonymous defoe Mark Vareschi
Part IV. The Monarchy and Parliament: 19. Politics Nicholas Seager
20. Defoe and the glorious revolution Emrys D. Jones
21. Defoe and the monarchy Toni Bowers
22. The act of union Juliet Shields
Part V. Social Structures and Social Life: 23. The penal system Monika Fludernik
24. Defoe and religion Jayne Lewis
25. Social status and social mobility Brean Hammond
26. Education and opportunity Benjamin F. Pauley
27. Men and women Ann Louise Kibbie
28. Defoe and China Eugenia Zuroski
29. London: 1660–1731 Melissa Mowry
30. The environment David Alff
31. Marriage law Melissa J. Ganz
32. Daniel defoe and the law of the sea Jonathan Lamb
33. Disability Jason S. Farr
34. Defoe and colonialism Stephanie DeGooyer
35. Defoe and animals Paul Kelleher
36. Defoe and slavery George Boulukos
37. Economics Robert Markley
38. Defoe and the supernatural Geoffrey Sill
39. Defoe and America Joseph F. Bartolomeo
Part VI. Critical Fortunes and Literary Afterlife: 40. Critical reception up to 1900 Emily C. Friedman
41. Critical reception after 1900 Manushag N. Powell
42. Continuations and adaptations Daniel Cook
Further Reading
Index.

Subject Areas: Literary studies: general [DSB]