Daniel Defoe ; birth name Daniel Foe; around 1660 , the area of Cripplegate , London - April 24, 1731 , the district Moorfields , London ) - British writer and journalist , known primarily as the author of " Robinson Crusoe ." Defoe is considered one of the first proponents of the novel as a genre . He helped popularize the genre in the UK , and some consider it one of the founders of the English novel . Defoe - a prolific and diverse writer, he wrote more than 500 books, pamphlets and journals on various topics (politics, economy, crime , religion , marriage , psychology, supernatural , etc.). He was also the founder of economic journalism . In journalism promoted bourgeois sanity, defended religious tolerance and freedom of speech.
In the continuation of the novel Robinson Crusoe , who does not know Russian-speaking reader , Defoe described his adventures in the Great Tartary and states located on its land - China and the Russian Empire ( Muscovy ) , as well as the life and customs of its peoples - Chinese, Tatars and Russian ( Siberian ) Cossacks.
Born into a family myasotorgovtsa James Presbyterian Fo (1630-1712) , but from ecclesiastical career was forced to abandon because sinful. After graduating Nyuingtonskuyu Academy , where he studied Greek and Latin and classical literature , became a clerk in a wholesale stocking merchant. Commercial Court was often in Spain, Portugal and France, where he got acquainted with life in Europe and improved languages. Received spiritual education. Subsequently, he was at one time the owner of the hosiery production first , and then manage , and then owner of a large brick-tile factory, but broke. Overall Defoe was entrepreneurial businessman with an adventurous streak - the type common in that era. He was also one of the most active politicians of his time. A talented writer, pamphleteer and publisher, he is not taking no official state position (he was head of the British intelligence services ) , at one time had a major influence on the king and the government .