Robinson Crusoe, the son of a Hull merchant, is about to take over his father's family business. He dreams of sea travel, but his father, who has already lost two sons at sea, refuses to let him. Nevertheless, the lust for adventure wins out and Robinson, as an 18-year-old in 1651, leaves his hometown and sails for London. Serving on a succession of ships, he learns the art of seamanship, does business, then finds himself enslaved by the Moors. After two years he escapes and becomes a planter in Brazil. His neighbors persuade him to go to Africa for slaves. During the expedition, the ship hits a hurricane and crashes at the mouth of the Orinoco River, and the sole survivor, Robinson, finds salvation on a deserted island.
