n
n
n
n
n
Henspent 28 years on a remote tropical island, a castaway who had tondeal with cannibals, pirates, and mutineers before he was finallynrescued and brought back to England.
n
Henspent 28 years on a remote tropical island, a castaway who had tondeal with cannibals, pirates, and mutineers before he was finallynrescued and brought back to England.n
n
n
nHenis also a fictional character!
n
n
n
nInn1719 Daniel Defoe published a book that he named ThenLife and Strange Surprizing Adventures of Robinson Crusoe, of York,nMariner: Who lived Eight and Twenty Years, all alone in annun‐inhabited Island on the Coast of America, near the Mouth of thenGreat River of Oroonoque; Having been cast on Shore by Shipwreck,nwherein all the Men perished but himself. With An Account how he wasnat last as strangely deliver’d by Pirates.n(We sensible modern types just call it RobinsonnCrusoe!)nn
n
n
n
n
Thenbook was probably inspired by the real-life adventures of thenScottish castaway Alexander Selkirk, who lived for four years on anPacific Island off the coast of Chile. Defoe probably based hisnfictional island on the Caribbean island of Tobago, because thenlatter is a short distance from South America, near the mouth of thenOrinoco River, and is in sight of Trinidad. However, the island thatnSelkirk really lived as a castaway, which used to be named “Mas anTierra,” was renamed Robinson Crusoe Island in 1966. n
Thenbook was probably inspired by the real-life adventures of thenScottish castaway Alexander Selkirk, who lived for four years on anPacific Island off the coast of Chile. Defoe probably based hisnfictional island on the Caribbean island of Tobago, because thenlatter is a short distance from South America, near the mouth of thenOrinoco River, and is in sight of Trinidad. However, the island thatnSelkirk really lived as a castaway, which used to be named “Mas anTierra,” was renamed Robinson Crusoe Island in 1966. nn
n
n
nWhynis today considered Robinson Crusoe Day? Was February 1 the fictionalnbirthday of Crusoe, or the real-life birthday of author Defoe? No.nWas it the anniversary of the first publication of the book? No.nActually, February 1 was the date of the 1709 rescue of AlexandernSelkirk. To commemorate the rescue on this day, we are urged to benadventurous and self-reliant every day.
n
n
n
- n
-
nTon hear the story of Robinson Crusoe, go to Candlelight Stories. (There are also quick summaries and illustrations offered on then website.)
n
n
n
- n
-
nForn some resources and activities to celebrate this day, check outn Living Life at Home.
n
n
n
n
n
nAlsonon this date:
n
n
n
n
n
nImbolc in Celtic cultures
n
n
n
n
n
nMalaysia’s Federal Territory Day
n
n
