DeFoe, Robinson Crusoe (1719):Money

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==Overview and first orientation== ==Overview and first orientation==
-Money plays an important role in ''Robinson Crusoe'' – even though or especially since the islander again and again celebrates his independence and his triumph over the whole attribution of value to money, a medium of no value to him, who is robbed of all human commerce.+Money plays an important role in [http://www.pierre-marteau.com/editions/1719-robinson-crusoe.html DeFoe's ''Robinson Crusoe''] – even though the islander again and again celebrates his independence and his triumph over the whole attribution of value to money, a medium of no value to him, who is robbed of all human commerce.
Crusoe keeps a continuous account of his wealth and he is finally overwhelmed when he has to realise how rich he became in the time of his isolation. His computations mention Crusoe keeps a continuous account of his wealth and he is finally overwhelmed when he has to realise how rich he became in the time of his isolation. His computations mention
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* [http://www.pierre-marteau.com/currency/indices/uk-03.html an overview of 18th and 19th century wages in English pounds sterling] * [http://www.pierre-marteau.com/currency/indices/uk-03.html an overview of 18th and 19th century wages in English pounds sterling]
* [[Prices and Wages (Great Britain)| Collected information on prices and wages in pounds sterling at the beginning of the 18th century]] * [[Prices and Wages (Great Britain)| Collected information on prices and wages in pounds sterling at the beginning of the 18th century]]
 +
 +==Literature==

Revision as of 10:09, 28 June 2006

Overview and first orientation

Money plays an important role in DeFoe's Robinson Crusoe – even though the islander again and again celebrates his independence and his triumph over the whole attribution of value to money, a medium of no value to him, who is robbed of all human commerce.

Crusoe keeps a continuous account of his wealth and he is finally overwhelmed when he has to realise how rich he became in the time of his isolation. His computations mention

  • English pounds sterling
  • Portuguese Moidors or Moydors i.e. gold moedas and Cruisadoes, i.e. silver cruzados,
  • Spanish Pieces of Eight, i.e. pesos, silver coins of eight reales,
  • unspecified (gold) ducats
  • unminted gold

The following pages offer

Literature