relation to God. He eventually encounters foes, in the form of cannibals who visit the island, as well as an unexpected ally. Often credited as one of the first examples of literary realism, the novel's almost documentary tone can be credited for providing much of its enduring appeal. The lucid descriptions of Crusoe's struggles put the reader in his place with great immediacy and creates wonder as to how well we might fare in the same conditions. This is the quintessential castaway story from which all others spring. Imitated and updated many times since its original appearance in 1719, the novel has been adapted into plays, opera, film, comics, television, radio and cartoons, and it has inspired countless other works in virtually all these media. Subject to steady re-interpretation down the years, Robinson Crusoe has been considered as everything from a political allegory of colonialism to a religious novel of Christian salvation, but through any lens it remains one of the most beloved and engaging novels in English. With an eye-catching new cover, and professionally typeset manuscript, this edition of Robinson Crusoe is both modern and readable.