True Stories: Robinson Crusoe

I did not know that there was a true story to Robinson Crusoe until I saw this first class documentary produced in Canada by CineNova Productions for the Discovery Channel. Although only 50 minutes long it skilfully intertwines the lives of Daniel Defoe and the real castaway Alexander Selkirk. Selkirk was the son of a Scottish tanner who goes to sea on a pirate ship as its navigator in 1706. After an argument with the Captain he is cast ashore on the Chilean island of Juan Fernandez in the southern Pacific. He survives on the island for about four years. His main source of food is a herd of wild goats. As well as their meat he also makes clothing from their skins. Eventually he is rescued by the pirate Woodes-Rogers. After capturing a Spanish galleon he is set on board as the Captain and returns to England where he collects £800 in prize money making him a wealthy man. Later he marries but returns to sea where he dies aged 42 of yellow fever.

The story of Selkirk was published in a book written by Woods-Rogers and it is on this account that Daniel Defoe based his novel but blended in more details from other accounts of marooned seamen. The main original contribution of Defoe was Man Friday. The book, which made Defoe rich, has been translated into more languages than any other book except the bible.

This made for TV documentary is very capably produced and relies on realistic re-enactments as well as voice-over and contributions from academics to tell the story. It is made for an intelligent audience so proceeds at a reasonable pace and does not waste time in overlong explanations of the obvious. If you get a chance to see this don't miss it. Incidentally, the island which has since become inhabited, was renamed Robinson Crusoe Island in 1966 and a smaller one in the same group Alejandro Selkirk island.