Adventure · Classics
Robinson Crusoe
A young Englishman defies his father to go to sea and is eventually shipwrecked alone on a remote island. He spends decades there making tools, growing food and thinking about his own life.
Facts last checked 2026-10-16
- First published
- 1719
- Pace
- Slow
- Length
- Medium
- Pages
- 656
- Format
- Book 1 of 3 in Robinson Crusoe
Read this if you like survival stories centred on practical detail, planning and solitude.
Skip this if you want fast action or modern attitudes; it is an early novel with colonial and slave-trading views.
The feel
Content warnings
Quick answers about Robinson Crusoe
- What is Robinson Crusoe about?
- A young Englishman defies his father to go to sea and is eventually shipwrecked alone on a remote island. He spends decades there making tools, growing food and thinking about his own life.
- Who should read Robinson Crusoe?
- Read it if you like survival stories centred on practical detail, planning and solitude. Skip it if you want fast action or modern attitudes; it is an early novel with colonial and slave-trading views.
- How long and how fast is Robinson Crusoe?
- It is a slow-paced, medium read of about 656 pages, first published in 1719.
- Does Robinson Crusoe have content warnings?
- Content we flag: Slavery, Racism, Violence.
- Can I borrow Robinson Crusoe for free?
- Often, yes. Check Libby (OverDrive) to see whether your library lends Robinson Crusoe; the borrow button above searches it for you.
- What should I read after Robinson Crusoe?
- Readers who liked it often move on to Hatchet, Life of Pi, Lord of the Flies.
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Where to get it
| Store | Price | Link |
|---|---|---|
| Borrow free | ||
| Libby / OverDrive | Free with a library card | Borrow free with Libby from Libby / OverDrive |
| Print, new | ||
| Amazon | Check price | Buy new from Amazon |
| Ebook | ||
| Kobo | Check price | Buy ebook from Kobo |
| Google Play Books | Check price | Buy ebook from Google Play Books |
| Audiobook | ||
| Audible | Check price | Buy audiobook from Audible |
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Because you might love it
If you loved Robinson Crusoe
-
Hatchet A modern, much shorter survival story about a boy alone in the wilderness, with similar focus on resourcefulness.
-
Life of Pi Another castaway story, but one in which survival turns into something philosophical and strange.
-
Lord of the Flies
Asks what happens when people are stranded on an island, with a far bleaker answer.
Adventure
