Daniel Defoe was an 18th century English writer famous for his novel "The Life and Strange Surprising Adventures of Robinson Crusoe". The story was loosely based on the real life adventures of Alexander Selkirk, who lived alone on a deserted island for four years. Published in 1719, Robinson Crusoe was immediately popular due to Defoe's realistic storytelling that made readers believe it was true. For this novel, Defoe is considered the father of English prose.