Robinson Crusoe

By: Daniel Defoe

Narrated by: John Lee

Shipwrecked and cast ashore onto an uninhabited island, Robinson Crusoe ingeniously carves out a solitary, primitive existence for 24 years. Eventually, he meets a young native whom he saves from death at the hands of cannibals. He calls him Man Friday and makes him his companion and servant.

Crusoe and Friday share in a variety of adventures, including a fierce battle with cannibals that culminates in the heroes recapturing a mutinous ship and returning to England.

Based partly on the real-life experiences of Scottish sailor Alexander Selkirk, Defoe's novel of human endurance in an exotic, faraway land exerts a timeless appeal and has taken its rightful place among the great works of Western civilization.

Public Domain (P)2008 Blackstone Audio, Inc.

Critic reviews

"[One of the few books] 'written by mere man that was wished longer by its readers.'" (Samuel Johnson)

classic story

filled with excellent descriptions of the scenery, characters with wonderful stories to tell, this is a must read

“In a word…”

Who would have thought that the epic adventure of Robinson Crusoe, a novel that I should have read in high school, about a man shipwrecked for “8 and 20 years, 2 months…” would also be a story of one man’s adventure to learn about the mercy and grace of God. His resilience in the 17th century would make any millennial in today’s world hyperventilate and have to run to their safe room just at the opening credits. I’m sure due to the religious aspect and the slavery element that this book is on the “banned” shelf in public schools these days, but how sad for our children. This book represents ingenuity, faith, courage, generosity, resilience, moral fortitude…. I could go on. Great read.

Lessons from 1700s still relevant today

Daniel Defoe's 18th century story of the shipwrecked adventurer, Robinson Crusoe, is still immensely readable (in this case, "listenable"), and we can still relate to Defoe's insights into the human struggle to understand the relationship of the Soul and the Creator. The fabulous performance by narrator John Lee breathes new life into the centuries-old survivor tale. I'll revisit this one again!

Very good book.

One of the absolute classics. Well read by the narrator. I recommend it highly especially if you have never read it before.

They're "The Classics" for a Reason

I listened after reading 40 years ago and it was everything I remembered it to be! The insights into the period of the days of exploration provide a vivid understanding of what life was like in those days. The narrator was excellent and the story superb! You've always heard about it...now listen!

robinson crusoe

great book, great narrator; highly recommend this classic to be read and reread;

Wonderful Adventure

For anyone with a sense of adventure a must. The story should have ended before the English arrived but it was obviously setup for a sequel. The section with the wolves and bears was beyond ridiculous, one is left amazed at the poor understanding of these animals had by Europeans.

Shockingly racists

OMG this goes on and on about having found grace through god while he's on a trip to capture illegal slaves. Its amazing.

True classic

I have just read this book at the age of 61. I don't think I read it as a child. This is a classic. It seems to me it was written for reading to chldren in a Pre-television era when reading books to children was in vogue. It still should be but I doubt many do it. It is a good adventure story but the thing that makes it somewhat unusual is how full of moral teaching it contains which would be geared at children. Morals such as making the best of what you have, being thankful for what you have, trusting God to provide for you, etc. are deeply carved into the story. As I approach my grandfather years I will remember this book and see if there will be some way to read it to my grandchildren.

Great book

Of course the book is a classic and a great story. But I would like to mention that this narrator is very good and brings this timeless work to life. I'm an artist and like to listen to these books while I paint away, sometimes for 10 or 12 hrs a day. This narrator's diction is very good which means that I can listen to him all day without tiring our my ears.