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Literature\u2019s most famous castaway, Robinson Crusoe, was washed up on a desert island - where he would remain for 28 years - on 30th September, 1659.\nBy selecting this date, author Daniel Defoe ensured that his fictional protagonist\u2019s fate pre-dated the real-life estrangement of Royal Navy man Alexander Selkirk, who was stranded some 46 years later: 14 years prior to Defoe writing his novel.\nIn this episode, Arion, Rebecca and Olly explain how his story pioneered not only the English novel, but also the movie trailer; ask whether Crusoe\u2019s narrative voice sounds like an authentic young man of the period, or betrays the fact that Defoe was nearly sixty when he created him; and dig around in the writer\u2019s early career (including, but not limited to, creating perfume from civets)...\nFurther Reading:\n\u2022 Daniel Defoe profile (The British Library): https://www.bl.uk/people/daniel-defoe\n\u2022 \u2018Debunking the Myth of the \u2018Real\u2019 Robinson Crusoe\u2019 (National Geographic, 2016): https://www.nationalgeographic.com/culture/article/robinson-crusoe-alexander-selkirk-history\n\u2022 The Shipwreck scene from \u2018Robinson Crusoe\u2019 (1927): https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OCaYAD1ZGuM\nFor bonus material and to support the show, visit\xa0Patreon.com/Retrospectors\nWe'll be back tomorrow! Follow us wherever you get your podcasts:\xa0podfollow.com/Retrospectors\nThe Retrospectors are Olly Mann, Rebecca Messina & Arion McNicoll, with Matt Hill.\nTheme Music: Pass The Peas. Announcer: Bob Ravelli. Graphic Design: Terry Saunders. Edit Producer: Emma Corsham.\nCopyright: Rethink Audio / Olly Mann 2021.\n#1600s #Arts #UK\n Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.\nLearn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices