ROXANA THE FORTUNATE MISTRESS

1·25.9 MB·English

by  DEFOE, DANIEL

“ROXANA

The Fortunate Mistress

By
DANIEL DEFOE

With Biographical Note ond.
Iniraduction by
R, BRIMLEY JOHNSON

BIOGRAPHICAL NOTE

Danze Deror was born in 1661, in the parish of St. Giles,
Cripplegate; the son of an “excellent” dissenting butcher,
James Foe. He probably adopted the “De” from the
initial of his Christian name, as a convenient distinction
from hig father; when Mr. Foe and Mr. D. Foe were both
prominent city Nonconformists.

Daniel, iadeed, was educated for the ministry ; but after
enlisting under Monmouth in the rebellion of 1685, became
an industrious tradesman, His True-born Englishman
(1701) brought him in favour at Court, but he was fined,

‘iforied, and put in prison for The Shortest Way with
issenters (1702), Under Queen Anne, he was sent to
Scotland to promote “the Union.”

Robinson Crusoe appeared in 1719; and’he continuously
produced innumerable books and pamphlets until his deat
in 1731; also editing, and writing the greater part of,
several political journals and working, behind the scenes,
with indefatigable energy, for all parties of the State,
in the interests of progress and the poor.
BIBLIOGRAPHICAL NOTE

Dexor produced mare than 200 books and pamphlets;
the more important are named below.

The True-born Englishman. A Satyr. 370%.
The Shortest Way with Dissenters, 1702.
A True Relation of the Apparition of one Mrs. Veal.

1 .

The ip and Strange Surprising Adventure of Robinson
Crusoe. 1719.

Memoirs of a Cavalier. “1720.

The Life, Adventures, and Piracies of the Famous Captain
‘Singleton. 1720.

The Fortuies ond Misfortunes of the Famous Moll
Flanders. 1722.

A Journal of the Plague Year.

The History ond Remarkable Life of the Truly Honour-
able Colonel Jacque. 1722.

Roxana. 1724.

Behaviour of Servants in England. 172d.

The Complete English. Tradesman. 1725, 1727.

The Secrets of the Invisible World Disclos’d. 1728.

The Review, 1703-1713.

Mercurius Politicus. "1716-1720.

The Whitehall Evening Post. 1718-1720.

The Daily Post. 1719-1725. .

Appleby's Original Weekly Journal. 1720-1726.

Mist's Tournal, 1737-1718, 1719-1720.

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INTRODUCTION

Havin long discarded the doctrine of Original Sin, man
yet remains keenly interested in the doings of original
Sinners; whether summarised in the Sunday Press or
detailed in the Rogue’s Gallery of literature.

As Defoe himself said of Molt Flanders, though “ the
moral 'tis hoped will keep the reader serious . . . there
eannot be the same brightness and beauty, in relating
the penitent part as is in the criminal part... . It is
too true that the difference lies not in the real worth of
the subject so much as in the gust and palate of the
reader."

Scaffold Confessions, and all forms of “ thieves’
literature” were immensely popular in the eighteenth
century; and Defoe the journalist, like Fielding the Bow
Street'magistrate, could gasily obtain inside knowledge of
how the “true histories” of: famous criminals were
" dressed_up” to exalt the Heroes of the Highways
and he Heroines of Bridewell, for the corruption of idle
youth.

Both writers, maybe, had no objection to. producing
best-sellers; but both were honestly sympathetic with the
underdog, honestly eager ta reform the harbarities af

rison and the Law, honestly liberal-minded in personal
judgments, Tite nonconformist in Defoe induced a
sincere faith in moral reflections, with the wholesome
conviction that “ virtue alone secures happiness; and that,
while life remains, it is never too late to mend.”

His somewhat serious biographer, William Lee, stautly
maintains that, like his "Poor Man’s Plea, for a reforma-
tion of tanners, and suppressing Immorality in the Na-
tion,” Defoe’s Moll Flanders, Honourable Colonel Jacque,
Roxana, John Sheppard, and the rest, were one and

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