ROBINSON CRUSOE
The first edition of Robinson Crusoe appeared in 1719. It made an immediate hit and was quickly translated into many languages. A second part was added but this was never so popular as the first. The first publication was in serial form in a periodical, The Original London Post or Heathcote's Intelligencer. So great was its success that four editions were called for in the same year, three in two volumes and one, a condensed version, in a single volume.
In 1720 Defoe brought out Serious Reflections During the Life and Adventures of Robinson Crusoe, with His Vision of the Angelic World. This was poorly received, although it has since been included in many of the editions of this story.
Of the making of editions of Robinson Crusoe there is no end. Nearly every year sees a new edition, with original illustrations. A noteworthy edition is that of Tyson's, published in London, with many fine engravings from designs by Granville, and another in 1820 in two volumes, with engravings by Charles Heath.
A fine edition of Robinson Crusoe in two volumes was issued by Houghton Mifflin Company of Boston in 1908, with illustrations from designs by Thomas Stothard.
The standard life of Defoe is that by Wm. Hazlitt, published in London (1840-1843) in three volumes. Sir Walter Scott edited a good edition of Defoe's complete works in 1840, in twenty volumes. About fifteen years ago J. M. Dent of London issued a fine edition of Defoe's works, with an excellent introduction to each book. A good selection of some of Defoe's best work is Masterpieces of Defoe, issued by the Macmillan Company in a series of prose masterpieces of great authors.
"There are few books one can read through and through so,
With new delight, either on wet or dry day,
As that which chronicles the acts of Crusoe,
And the good faith and deeds of his man Friday."
GULLIVER'S TRAVELS
Swift foretold very accurately the great vogue that Gulliver's Travels would have. In writing to Arbuthnot he said: "I will make over all my profits (in a certain work) for the property of Gulliver's Travels which, I believe, will have as great a run as John Bunyan." The success of the book when issued anonymously in November, 1726, was enormous. Swift derived his chief satisfaction from the fact that he had hoodwinked many readers. Arbuthnot told of an acquaintance who had tried to locate Lilliput on a map and another told him of a shipmaster who had known Gulliver well. Many editions of the book were called for in England, and in France it had a great success and was dramatized.
A large paper copy of the first edition, with Swift's corrections on the margin, which appeared in later editions, is now in the South Kensington Museum. It shows how carefully Swift revised the work, as the changes are numerous. Toward the close of 1726 the work was reissued, with a second volume. In 1727 appeared the first new edition of both volumes. Swift's changes were mainly in "Laputa," which had been severely criticized. On Dec. 28, 1727, Swift in a letter suggests illustrations for the new edition and says of the book: "The world glutted itself with that book at first, but now it will go off but soberly, but I suppose will not be soon worn out."