Daniel Defoe’s Robinson Crusoe, published in 1719, was thought by its first readers to be a true story. It was in fact inspired by the adventures of a real-life castaway. Defoe tells the story of the sole survivor of a shipwreck, his ingenuity, and his encounter with the man he calls Friday. The story of a man living completely alone for years holds a renewed fascination for modern-day readers in an increasingly interconnected world.

The Core Classics® series presents stories loved for generations in abridged versions for young readers, illustrated and annotated, and faithful to the style, plot, and themes of the originals. This volume includes a brief biography of the author and an introduction by E. D. Hirsch, Jr.

In the upper elementary grades, Core Classics are suitable for strong readers or reading aloud; in middle school and up, the texts are appropriate for independent reading.