Robinson Crusoe • Daniel Defoe

For a while, I manage quite well with the less splendid books. But at some point, I need a truly beautiful edition again. There’s no help for it, and then I go on the hunt. Since I didn’t yet own the gorgeous Robinson Crusoe edition from mare, it naturally made its way straight to the top of my wish list. Daniel Defoe’s novel is one of the great and world-famous adventure classics. The question arises whether this 18th-century book is still worth reading today, and whether purchasing such a handsome edition is truly worthwhile.

Who doesn’t know the story of Robinson Crusoe, who, after a shipwreck, ends up on a lonely tropical island and remains stranded there for many years? He makes himself at home, fights for survival, wrestles with his situation, and eventually comes to terms with his involuntary exile in this beautiful yet solitary natural paradise. He is incredibly resourceful, and it’s fascinating to read how he repeatedly manages to produce the most ordinary things—or find replacements for them. With much time and hard work, he takes possession of the entire island, and eventually, it becomes a kind of spiritual purification for him. The enforced solitude leads him to rediscover the Christian faith; he constantly reflects on his situation and tries to give it meaning.

The story and its theme have been adapted countless times in film, television, literature, children’s books, and many other formats. Over the centuries, the idea of being separated from civilization, stranded on a deserted island, and struggling to survive has lost little of its fascination. I’m no exception—and I truly find it entertaining to read about such a situation. I was also captivated by the beautifully designed book The Islands Where I Stranded by Lucien Deprijck, which contains numerous and very different stories about being stranded.

The old adventure classics rarely disappoint, and here too, the novel is captivating from the very first pages—you are quickly drawn into the story. Even before the actual shipwreck, the protagonist experiences several thrilling episodes. The pacing of the book is pleasantly brisk, and it reads very smoothly. The first-person narration allows readers to empathize with Robinson’s struggles and follow his emotional ups and downs. It’s simply fascinating to read how he sets up life on the island, how he manages the many small and large challenges of daily life, and how a primal instinct for survival rekindles his vitality. At the same time, the novel strikes a light and humorous tone. The setting alone is marvelous—it’s easy to imagine a beautiful South Sea island flourishing with lush flora and fauna.

Daniel Defoe, born around 1660 in London, is considered one of the founders of the English novel and became famous almost overnight with Robinson Crusoe. His inspiration was the account of sailor Alexander Selkirk, who, after a dispute with his captain, was marooned on the island of Más a Tierra off the coast of Chile, where he lived in complete isolation for over four years. Selkirk published his story in a magazine that Defoe is said to have read, and allegedly, the two even met in a London pub.

The island Más a Tierra actually exists and was renamed Isla Robinson Crusoe in 1966. It belongs to the Juan Fernández Archipelago. With an area of 47.9 km², it’s not exactly large—but spacious enough for a single inhabitant. These days, around 900 people live on the small island. However, it is believed that due to climate change, the island will completely dry out by 2090. It looks quite picturesque, and if it weren’t so far away, it would make a wonderful travel destination. One can easily imagine Robinson Crusoe wandering there all alone.

Those who do a little searching online will find the documentary Terra X – Robinson Crusoe’s Treasure Island, which gives a lovely impression of what the island looks like and provides some interesting background information—for instance, that the island had considerable geopolitical relevance in the 18th century, and that it’s almost certain Defoe met Selkirk.

A few years ago, I bought the edition from Manesse Verlag, which is also very beautiful. But this book from mare Verlag is, of course, the most magnificent one you could wish for. As usual, it comes in a sturdy slipcase, with a high-quality cloth cover featuring a black palm print. I find the typography particularly well done—truly impressive how well they managed to select a typeface from the colorful zoo of available fonts that—with its fine serifs—subtly recalls typical pirate lettering while remaining elegant and refined. Naturally, the book also features sewn binding and a perfectly color-coordinated ribbon marker, a slightly darker red than the cover, which stays discreetly in the background. The endpapers are a light brown tone and match beautifully as well. In short: it’s a pleasure to hold this beautiful book in your hands—pure balm for the paperback-glued-spine-abused soul.

The translation by Rudolf Mast is unabridged and closely follows the original. I found the editorial note particularly interesting—it mentions that when the book was written, the use of quotation marks was not yet common. As is now customary, the translators try to stay as close as possible to the original text, making changes only when absolutely necessary. I also enjoyed Günther Wessel’s informative afterword, which strikes a good balance between interpretation and factual background about the author and the novel’s context.

Conclusion: This edition of Robinson Crusoe is simply wonderful. Even more than 300 years after its first publication, the adventure novel still captivates, excites, and entertains. It reads smoothly and still conveys the timeless fascination of being stranded on a deserted island. This splendid mare edition—with its beautiful cloth binding, ribbon marker, perfectly coordinated color palette, high-quality sewn binding, and carefully chosen typography—is pure bibliophilic delight. A book I can wholeheartedly recommend.

Book information: Robinson Crusoe • Daniel Defoe • mare Verlag • 400 pages • ISBN 9783866482913