Daniel Defoe

Advantages: An interesting insight to to such an event.
Disadvantages: May not be historically accurate.

...This book is an account of the plague that hit London and the rest of the country in 1665. It gives the journal writers own experiences and opinions but also presents the experiences and conditions of others. It was written by Defoe many years after the event (he was only a young boy in 1665) which has led to this being regarded as a work of fiction. But it is also believed that this may in fact be the journal of Defoe's uncle whose life the journal accurately mirrors. I found that one of the interesting things about this book was making a decision on whether it is fact or fiction. Nevertheless it is an interesting read which may give some insight to what occurred or what Defoe and his contemporaries perceived of the events. Again it all depends on how you view the nature of the book. As a read itself my copy is in the original 17th... Read review

Ciao members have rated this review on average somewhat helpful

Advantages: Creates a visual first person narrative in order for the reader to experience it first hand
Disadvantages: There are no disadvantages in classic literature

...This is an amazing tale of a marooned boy who against all odds, creates a utopian society with nothing. Daniel Defoe tells tale of a marooned individual in order to criticize society. By using the Island location, similar to that of Shakespeare's The Tempest, Defoe is able to show his audience exactly what is necessary for the development of a utopian society. In The Tempest, the small society of Prospero's island addresses the aspects of morality, the supernatural and politics in the larger British society. In Defoe's Robinson Crusoe, the island's natural surroundings highlights the subject of man's individual growth, both spiritually and physically. Nature instantly exercises its power and control over man in the tropical storm that leads to the wreckage of Crusoe's ship. "The fury of the sea" thrusts Crusoe to the shores... Read review

Ciao members have rated this review on average helpful

Advantages: Sexy, erotic heroine not afraid to admit vulnerability but still on top of men, literally
Disadvantages: Long and drags a bit in places. Plot stretches credibility and in general is overdone

...Moll Flanders is a young girl brought up in a cruel and violent world. She gets involved in theft and other activities that carry the extreme penalty of hanging on the Tyburn gallows. She is a capable prostitute who amongst other things marries her own brother. She is based on the character of Jenny Diver a real-life cutpurse who was transported to the colonies twice but came back, despite knowing there was a mandatory death sentence, and eventually found her way to Tyburn Tree. Moll's reflections in the death cell form the highlight of the novel and the first time that one can really sympathise with her against the system. I am unsure if Defoe was in favour of capital punishment or not. The book gives a real flavour for the period... Read review

Ciao members have rated this review on average somewhat helpful