Abbie Spence,
Philosophy-Lit Major
Time Travel and
Changing History
The Robinson Crusoe
Connection
About the Author and
his Next Book
All content ©2000
Arch Grove Press
ISLAND WOMAN: THE ROBINSON CRUSOE CONNECTION
Scottish seaman Andrew Selkirk is Island Woman's only historical character. We would not dare to give away Selkirk's part in the story. However, we can remind the reader of Selkirk's role in history.
In 1703 an English privateering expedition composed of two ships, the St. George and the Cinque Ports, headed by William Dampier, departed Kinsale, Ireland. Selkirk served as the second officer aboard the Cinque Ports, the smaller of the vessels.
After rounding the Horn into the South Sea the expedition preyed on Spanish ships along the Peruvian coast, using as their base Juan Fernández Island which is located about 400 miles west of Valparaiso, Chile. The original captain of the Cinque Ports died and Selkirk and the crew lost confidence in the new captain, a Lieutenant Stradling. After arguing with Stradling over the condition of the ship's bottom, Selkirk voluntarily marooned himself on Juan Fernández in 1704. He survived on the island for four years and four months.
On February 1, 1709, the Duke and Duchess, privateering vessels of an expedition out of Bristol, England, arrived at Juan Fernández Island and found Selkirk. The Duke took him on board and departed the island on February 13 of that year. Heading west, the ship circumnavigated the world, took several prizes, and arrived in England on October 1, 1711.
Selkirk settled into an easy life using his share of the prize money from the voyage. Several publications reported on Selkirk's existence on Juan Fernández Island. In 1713 an interview with Selkirk by Richard Steele appeared in The Englishman. Selkirk and his experience captured the imagination of the people of England. Daniel Defoe based the idea for his novel, Robinson Crusoe, on Selkirk's life at the island. The book was published in 1719, destined to become one of the most famous stories in history.
