English author Daniel Defoe was at times a trader, political activist, criminal, spy and writer, and is considered to be one of England’s first journalists. A prolific writer, Defoe is known to have used at least 198 pen names over the course of a career in which he produced more than five hundred written works. Defoe is best-known for his novels detailing the adventures of the castaway Robinson Crusoe, which helped establish and popularize the novel in eighteenth century England. In addition to Robinson Crusoe, Defoe penned other famous works including Captain Singleton, A Journal of the Plague Year, Captain Jack, Moll Flanders and Roxana. Defoe died in 1731.
Little is known about author Peter Longueville. His only literary contribution, The English Hermit: or the unparalleled sufferings, and surprising adventures of Phillip Quarll, was originally published in 1727. Some early editions announced the fictitious narrator of the novel, Edward Dorrington, as the author, presumably to increase popularity and lend realism to Longeuville’s story while other sources alternately credit Alexander Bicknell, who may have been a translator or editor of the work, as a co-author.
