What would you do if you washed up on a deserted island? Daniel Defoe, born on April 24, 1660, asked readers this question in Robinson Crusoe. The book follows a man stranded alone on an island for 28 years. Crusoe must find food, build shelter, and protect himself. He even tames a wild parrot for company. The story was based on a real person. A Scottish sailor named Alexander Selkirk was marooned on an island in the Pacific Ocean for over four years. Defoe read about Selkirk and turned his experience into a much longer, more dramatic tale. Robinson Crusoe was published in 1719. It was an instant hit. Many scholars call it one of the first true English novels. Before Crusoe, most long stories were about knights or mythical heroes. Defoe wrote about an ordinary person solving real problems. Readers loved following Crusoe's daily struggles. They felt like they were surviving right alongside him.