The Novel
The Novel
http://pierre-marteau.com/novels.html
THE| LIFE| And Strange Surprizing| ADVENTURES| OF| Mr. D— De F–,| OF| LONDON, Hosier,| WHO| Has liv'd above fifty Years by| himself, in the Kingdoms of North and| South Britain. The various Shapes he| has appear'd in, and the Discoveries| he has made for the Benefit of his| Country.| IN A| DIALOGUE between Him,| Robinson Crusoe, and his Man Friday.| WITH| REMARKS Serious and Co-|mical upon the life of CRUSOE.| [rule]| Qui vult decipi, decipiatur.| [rule]| LONDON: Printed for J. ROBERTS in War-|wick-Lane. 1719. Price 1 s.
p.[i] titlepage/ p.[iii]-iv pref./ p.[v]-xviii "A Dialogue betwixt D––––– F–––e, Robinson Crusoe, and his Man Friday"/ p.[1]-48 "An Epistle to D––––– D'F–––e, the reputed Author of Robinson Crusoe"/ 4°.
{L: G.13532}
Gildon, Charles
| a |  [Gildon, Charles,] The Life and Strange Surprizing Adventures of Mr. D–––– De F–– (London: J. Roberts, 1719). [Date: shortly after pt. 2 of [D.Defoe,] Robinson Crusoe (London: W. Taylor, 1719), which appeared on 20 Aug. 1719.] |
|
| b | [...] Second Edition (London: J. Roberts, 1719). |
|
| c | [...] Third Edition (Dublin: E. Sadleir/ P. Dugan, 1719). |
Pref. a parody of Robinson Crusoe, vol 1 (London: W. Taylor, 1719), DeFoe is now the hero. The dialogue part shows DeFoe in a nightmare confronted with his creatures, who blame him for the characters he has given them, and who force him top swallow his own book before they shake him so terribly that he shits his trousers as much in the reality of his dream as in any other. The second part lists all the improbabilities and logical faults which prove the book a piece of fiction. As the author of a fiction DeFoe can be made responsible for the turns he gave his story and for the moral implications resulting from them: The prosperity of the nation is at stake if readers should actually be persuaded to believe in a God who would kill all men on board of a vessel to punish one. Robinson's message about filial obedience has to be rejected by a nation depending on sailors risking their lives, Gildon points out with all due respect towards their parents.
o.s.