The Real Robinson Crusoe Was a What?

Did you know that Robinson Crusoe, written by Daniel Defoe, was based on an actual person and a real island?

What is fascinating is the real Robinson Crusoe was a PIRATE. Really. His name was Alexander Selkirk, and he was castaway in 1704 on the San Juan Islands just 400 miles west of Chile. (It's also called Robinson Crusoe Island now.)

And it isn't ugly.

And it's fairly descent sized. And it does have goats. But for Alexander, there was no reformed-cannibal 'my man Friday' to befriend and help him. He was on his own.

Other than falling off a cliff - which he did, the greatest danger Alexander faced was getting caught by people who'd turn him in for being a pirate. He hid from two Spanish boats that landed. Eventually, after four and a half very lonely years, he managed to escape on a privateering boat.

So now we know the real story. I see why it  inspired Daniel Defoe to write his book. Makes me want to visit this island . . . or write a pirate book of my own. Hm. Sounds kind of fun.

If you'd like to read the extended wikipedia vesion of Alexander's story, click here: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Alexander_Selkirk)