[DeFoe, Daniel?]
The Life, Adventures, and Pyracies, of the Famous Captain Singleton (London: J. Brotherton/ J. Graves/ A. Dodd/ T. Warner, 1720).

THE| LIFE,| ADVENTURES,| AND| PYRACIES,| Of the Famous| Captain SINGLETON:| Containing an ACCOUNT of his| being set on Shore in the Island of| Madagascar, his Settlement there, with a De-|scription of the Place and Inhabitants: Of his| Passage from thence, in a Paraguay, to the| main Land of Africa, with an Account of the| Customs and Manners of the People: His| great Deliverances from the barbarous Na-|tives and wild Beasts: Of his meeting with an| Englishman, a Citizen of London, among the| Indians, the great Riches he acquired, and his| Voyage Home to England: As also Captain| Singleton's Return to Sea, with an Account of| his many Adventures and Pyracies with the| famous Captain Avery and others.| [rule]| LONDON: Printed for J. Brotherton, at the Black Bull| in Cornhill, J. Graves in St. James's Street, A. Dodd, at| the Peacock without Temple-bar, and T. Warner, at the| Black Boy in Pater-Noster-Row. 1720.

Description

titlepage/ p.1-344 [recte 360, p.209-224 repeated]/ 8°.

Shelf-marks

{L: 838.c.3} {L: G.13538} {NA:MH: EC7/D3623/7201} {NA:IU: x823/D36c/1720(cs)}.

Bibliographical Reference

J. R. Moore (1960), p.176-77: 435 - ESTC: t069688.

Author

J. R. Moore (1960), p.176: 435: Defoe, Daniel.

History of Publication

	a	The Life, Adventures, and Pyracies, of the Famous Captain Singleton (London: J. Brotherton/ J. Graves/ A. Dodd/ T. Warner, 1720). [Dated by P. Wilson (1990), p.viii: 4. June 1720.]
	b	[Newspaper edition in] The Post Boy or the Loyal Mercury (Exeter, 1720 ff.) [The first two pages of each edition offer Singleton's text, the second half of the paper remains reserved for news.]
	c	The Life, Adventures, and Pyracies, of the Famous Captain Singleton [...] second edition (1737).
	d	[...] third edition (1768).

New editions ed. by J. Sutherland (1963). - by S. K. Kumar (1969). - by S. K. Kumar (1990).

Remarks

Singleton's report of his dubious extraction, his chiledhood without home, his early years among sailors, his own moral corruption, his survival and career as a leader of Portugese sailors - muteneers who had to leave the ship to make their way through Africa (the men who were supposed to be devoured by cannibals, fight their way through a continent they find uninhabited as soon as they leave the shores). Return to England (where, without friends, Singloton cannot scure his fortune). Second career as pirate and conversion initiated by his friend William, a loyal Quaker, who admonishes him to think of God's punishement. Remorse, dispair and plans to committ suicde - can God allow him to survive with all the riches he made as a murderer? - Singleton, the capatain, makes William his personal captain and decides to keep his riches till he finds a good way to dispose of them - which is ultimately found in William's sister, a widow in poverty. Marraige with her years later and more happiness than he thinks he deserves. - All augmented with a good deal of geography, and techniques of survival.

Literature

[including a bibliography:] P. Wilson (1990).

o.s.