An Essay upon Projects

by Daniel Defoe

Overview

An Essay Upon Projects contains a series of ideas and opinions which Daniel Defoe published in an attempt to encourage social reform in England during the late 17th century.The essay is lengthy and wide in scope; Defoe proposes a series of reforms and developments to financial institutions, England's roadways, and the need for a pension given to professional civil servants and sailors of the Crown. Perhaps most famously, Defoe advances the idea of a higher educational institution for women, modeled after the French academies of the era, while at the same time mounting a spirited defense of the female character; these arguments were almost unheard of in the late 17th century.During and after his life, Defoe was primarily famed for his works of fiction. His story Robinson Crusoe remains a world famous landmark of English literature. His books were quite synonymous with the adventurous, commercial spirit which defined England at the time, and to a great extent Defoe's own life as an ambitious trader and traveled merchant. Although he held minor roles in the British government, Defoe was far more vested in mercantile pursuits rather than politics or social reform.This edition of An Essay Upon Projects contains a complete biographical introduction by Henry Morley, together with four illustrations of prominent figures instrumental to Defoe's life. The essay is written in Defoe's easily recognized and digestible style, and offers superb insight into the society of his era.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9781412183093
Publisher:	eBooksLib
Publication date:	04/21/2010
Sold by:	Barnes & Noble
Format:	eBook
File size:	259 KB

About the Author

Daniel Defoe (13 September 1660 - 24 April 1731), born Daniel Foe, was an English trader, writer, journalist, pamphleteer and spy. He is most famous for his novel Robinson Crusoe, which is second only to the Bible in its number of translations. Defoe is noted for being one of the earliest proponents of the novel, as he helped to popularise the form in Britain with others such as Aphra Behn and Samuel Richardson, and is among the founders of the English novel. Defoe wrote many political tracts and often was in trouble with the authorities, including prison time. Intellectuals and political leaders paid attention to his fresh ideas and sometimes consulted with him.

Editorial Reviews

Defoe began working on the series of radical proposals to improve England in about 1692 when he had just gotten out of prison and was hiding from authorities and creditors; by the time he had finished and published them in 1697, he had also righted himself publicly and financially. The collection represents new beginnings for him as a political and literary figure, new assertions of principles, new ventures on public terrain. It also is solidly within the tradition of the flurry of similar proposals and prophecies published, usually as pamphlets, during that decade. Annotation c. Book News, Inc., Portland, OR (booknew.com)

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