Robinson Crusoe, a novel by Daniel Defoe published in 1719, is the autobiography of a man who spends twenty-eight years stranded on a remote tropical island in the Caribbean. During this time, he builds a shelter, cultivates some crops, raises goats, and finds religion from reading the bible. He also encounters cannibalistic natives, one of whom he converts to Christianity. The first edition credited Robinson Crusoe as its author, leading many readers to believe he was a real person. Well received upon its publication, it has been called the first English novel. It has gone on to become one of the most widely published books in history, spawning numerous adaptations in film, television and radio.
