Robinson Crusoe is an imaginary story about a sailor who is marooned on a desert island in the Caribbean Sea. Daniel Defoe wrote this novel in 1719. He based the story partly on the experiences of a Scottish sailor, Alexander Selkirk. But Defoe's realistic account of Crusoe's life is much more interesting, and has become one of the most popular books in English.
The book explains how Crusoe cleverly manages to make himself comfortable while he lives on the island. He tames wild goats, makes his own clothes, and builds a house for himself. After living alone for a long time, Crusoe rescues a man from cannibals. He calls the man Friday because he met him on that day. Friday becomes Crusoe's trusted friend and servant. The term, "man Friday," has come to mean any trusted servant. Finally, after 28 years, a ship visits the island and takes the two men back to England.
