The Story of Alexander Selkirk

Published in 1841 by Samuel Griswold Goodrich (August 19, 1793 – May 9, 1860) was an American author, better known under the pseudonym Peter Parley. (220 pages) A detailed account of Alexander Selkirk's time spent on the island of Juan Fernandez. This is the story that De Foe based Robinson Crusoe on. The last 60 pages are devoted to the life of De Foe and examples from Robinson Crusoe.

The Publisher has copy-edited this book to improve the formatting, style and accuracy of the text to make it readable. This did not involve changing the substance of the text.

Contents:

CHAPTER I.
Selkirk's birth. His parentage. Choice of his business. His father's views. His temperament, a quarrel, the punishment, His humiliation. He resolves to go to sea.

CHAPTER II.
Selkirk sails. His reflections. Sea-sickness. A hail storm. His dream. His resolution. Plans for the future. Another voyage. He goes out sailing-master.

CHAPTER III.
The Cinque Ports on a cruise. Death of the captain. His successor. Selkirk's dislike to him. Men left on an island. Two captains disagree. Second visit to Juan Fernandez. Selkirk is left there. Reflections.

CHAPTER IV.
Selkirk's feelings. Discovery of the island. The Buccaniers. Story of Robert Kidd. The first night on the island. The animals. The vegetables. Other remarks on the island. The few first days. A boiled dish.

CHAPTER V.
He builds two houses. The goats and birds. His furniture. Makes a cup. Is troubled with rats; tames wild cats to get rid of them.

CHAPTER VI.
The cats. A fight. Sea lions. Attack on Commodore Byron. Taming the kid. Milking goats. Catching wild ones Shoes wear out.

CHAPTER VII.
A needle invented. Mending and making garments. A resting place. Meditations. He makes a knife. Spaniards land and pursue him. His escape. Their departure. A way to get fire. He finds plums. Makes a basket.

CHAPTER VIII.
An accident. His sufferings. Need of a companion He sees ships. The people land. He goes on board. Farewell to the island. Return home. Conclusion.

Section on: THE LIFE OF DANIEL DE FOE.

Excerpts:

.....While on this coast, Captain Pickering died, and his lieutenant, whose name was Thomas Stradling, was his successor in command. Whether the name of Stradling had any thing to do with his character, or not, is not recorded; but certain it was, that his strides in his newly-acquired authority seemed rather too long, to please our hero, Alexander, who had never liked the man, and who now felt indignant at many of his imperious airs.

.....This growing dislike began at first to break out in little bickerings and murmurings, and finally ripened into an open quarrel between the commander and his sailing-master.

.....The first night of his solitude was the most solemn one that ever had come down upon Alexander. No darkness since his eyes first opened upon the world, in his forsaken Largo, had seemed like that which now shrouded his homeless, houseless form, concealing it even from his own sight.

.....His whole worldly wealth, which had no shelter but the overhanging rocks by which it was deposited, consisted of his bed and bedding, his chest of clothing, his books, mathematical and nautical instruments, a hatchet, a knife, a kettle, a gun, powder and balls. With these he had some tobacco, and a few other small articles contained in his chest.

.....When the night had passed heavily away, and the light of morning dawned, he bethought himself of the one great source of consolation that he had still, in his Bible; and he began the day by reading it.