CHAPTER EIGHTEEN
RETURN TO LONDON
Back in London, Defoe was saddened by a severe criticism of him by a contemporary Irish writer, Jonathan Swift. “On of these authors (the Fellow that was Pilloryed, I have forgot his Name) is indeed so grave, sententious, dogmatical of a Rogue, that there is no enduring him.”
Defoe felt like he was never going to live down his three days in the pillory for writing political articles that angered Queen Anne. He sighed.
1722 – Defoe went on to write Moll Flanders, a book which shocked many members of proper society. The amorous adventures of Flanders upset readers but the purpose of the story was to teach the readers that again, despite the depths of any sin that a person has committed, that the mercy and love of God is always available and redemption of the soul is always possible.
Defoe’s books have been immensely popular and have touched a nerve in the reading public. Despite the immense success of his books, he was never financially successful in his lifetime and actually died hiding from his creditors.
None of that detracts from the fact that his book The Storm is considered to be the first true example of modern journalism. Also, Robinson Crusoe in considered to be a modern novel and has been translated and republished time and time again. The story has been told countless times in books, movies, and television.
Although Defoe was criticized by Jonathan Swift, in 1742 Alexander Pope wrote “The first part of Robinson Crusoe is very good – De Foe wrote a vast many things, and none bad, though none excellent, except this.”