The Daniel Defoe Library

In which the unfortunate loss of a merchant ship and privateer, both bearing identical colours, leads to a grievous financial ruin for our narrator, who contemplates a humbler life in Amsterdam amidst mounting debts and solitude. There, accompanied by faithful Isabel, she confronts the harshness of imprisonment and devotes her remaining days to repentance and pious reflection until her final repos...

In which the lady finds herself reduced from great splendour to modest means, contending with the melancholy fate of an old servant and the uncertain prospects of her son's indifference. She endeavours to secure her future by engaging in commerce and takes cautious steps towards maintaining her dignity and livelihood amidst altered circumstances.

In which the gradual decline of her lord's health and fortune becomes painfully apparent, revealing the complexities and hardships of their strained relationship, as he prepares to settle his affairs and make a will that leaves her provision alarmingly scant. The narrative delicately unfolds the somber realities of inheritance, familial duty, and the burdens of secrecy, all framed by the quiet sor...

In which the Lady Roxana recounts the fortunes and misfortunes of her children and contends with the bitter estrangement and harsh reproaches of her noble husband, whose stern displeasure and cold distance weigh heavily upon her domestic life. She navigates the delicate arrangements and sad partings attendant on her children's futures, whilst grappling with loneliness and the fading of old friends...

In which the narrative unfolds the journey of settling into new surroundings and the receipt of a poignant letter from a long-lost acquaintance that brings a mixture of joy and sorrow. The ensuing dramatic encounter between Roxana, her servant, and a bold visitor claiming to be her daughter, exposes hidden truths and stirs a tempest of emotions, challenging loyalties and igniting a profound reckon...

In which Roxana, accompanied by her husband and a Quaker companion, prepares for their journey abroad, securing passage and servants while contending with unexpected encounters and uneasy recognitions. Their travels take them from Dover to Paris, where Roxana adopts a careful reserve, observing her son Thomas with a mixture of suspicion and concealed affection, all the while navigating the delicat...

In which the narrator wrestles deeply with the troubling absence of a dear girl and the suspected role of a woman named Amy in her unexplained disappearance, all while carefully entrusting her affairs to a faithful Quaker friend. As she embarks upon a journey to Holland with her spouse, disguising her identity and endeavouring to elude discovery, she reflects upon her past actions and contemplates...

In which the persistent quest of a troublesome young woman to discover her unknown mother drives the narrator into a state of anxiety and strategic concealment, amid the loyal but turbulent assistance of her long-time servant Amy and a discreet Quaker friend. The ensuing tension leads to a painful rupture with Amy, whilst the narrator wrestles with fears and uncertainties that unsettle her otherwi...

In which Roxana devises a careful stratagem to postpone her voyage and evade an unwelcome visitor, whose persistent claims of maternity threaten to disturb her carefully constructed life. The tale unfolds with the tender alignment of her husband’s kindness and her own duplicity, as well as the loyal efforts of her friend the Quaker to manage the pressing demands of this impertinent girl.

In which the narrator finds herself increasingly beset by the unwanted attentions and suspicions of a garrulous young woman whose tale of scandals and finery dangerously mirrors her own concealed past, compelling her to endure a trying visitation with anxious composure. The innocent involvement of a perceptive and well-meaning Quaker friend affords some relief, yet also sharpens the dread that her...

In which the precarious secret of Roxana’s identity is threatened by a persistent girl claiming kinship, prompting distress and dark resolutions among her household. A chance encounter aboard a ship laden with uneasy concealments reveals unforeseen connections that sharpen the suspense of concealment and discovery.

In which Roxana attains the title and lifestyle of a countess through her spouse’s inheritance and carefully crafted public narrative, securing legitimacy and respectability for their family while reflecting on her conflicting feelings towards her children and past. Yet despite outward prosperity, she is haunted by melancholy and the threat of exposure from one of her daughters, whose suspicions j...

In which the narrator compassionately reflects upon her past hardships and extends generous aid to a struggling widow, whilst carefully delineating the separation of her own ill-gotten wealth from her husband's honourable estate to preserve his fortune. The couple settles their considerable fortunes with mutual understanding and prudence, though beneath their prosperity lies a shadow of remorse an...

In which a proposal of noble titles and naturalisation sets the stage for a private marriage that concludes a tumultuous chapter in a life marked by both prosperity and moral reflection. The newlyweds settle into a quiet felicity, honouring their faithful Quaker friend with generous gifts and tender attentions, while adopting foreign dress and customs in a delicate balance of pride and discretion.

In which the narrative unfolds a painstaking correspondence and emotional negotiation between Roxana and a once-ardent admirer, marked by tender regret, cautious reconciliation, and the revealing of complex past disappointments. Simultaneously, Roxana wrestles with the enticing prospect of princely grandeur—fostered by a crafty maid’s news—and the sobering realities of her current entanglements, a...

In which a careful and circuitous search is made across several cities to discover the whereabouts of a certain Dutch merchant, whose elusive presence stirs much reflection and hesitation in the narrator’s mind. The episode concludes with an unexpected and awkward meeting, wherein past misunderstandings and present emotions mingle delicately, unfolding with a mix of ceremony and secret yearning.

In which the narrator, burdened by the shame of her past and her unknown children, resolves through the counsel of her faithful servant Amy to adopt a new and concealed life among a sober Quaker family, transforming herself in dress and manner to escape her former infamy. This retreat brings a measure of peace and the means to quietly pursue old acquaintances and concerns from afar, while contempl...

In which the provident Mrs. Amy undertakes the maintenance and advancement of a young apprentice, revealing both benevolent intentions and a careful management of family secrets, while the narrator reflects on the dawning dissatisfaction with her former life and contemplates the future standing of her children. Amidst the subtle intrigues of social advancement and hidden identities, she begins to...

In which Roxana recounts the establishment of a discreet and intimate arrangement with her noble benefactor, adopting private lodgings to preserve her comfort and privacy amid unwelcome solicitations. She also undertakes a secret inquiry into the fortunes of her neglected children, employing her faithful servant Amy to discover their welfare, revealing a mixture of hardship and charity in their un...

In which Roxana, having entered the lively and morally flexible world of the court, finds herself the centre of admiration through splendid balls and exotic disguises that captivate the aristocracy, earning her a celebrated name and considerable wealth. After a period of retirement that enhances her fortune, she reemerges into society with a blend of diminished splendour and enduring charm, attrac...

In which the heroine reflects upon a tender and perplexing parting from a virtuous gentleman who sought to marry her and ensure her child’s welfare, while she, captivated by her own notions of liberty and ambition, declines his offer and prepares to navigate life independently with considerable fortune. She then resolves to secure her wealth with prudence, fending off opportunistic suitors, and em...

In which the discourse unfolds upon the complex negotiations of favour, money, and matrimonial intent between the widow and her suitor, revealing the nuanced considerations of liberty, estate, and social custom that govern their uneasy alliance. Observing with keen reflection, the narrator expounds upon the nature of marriage’s surrender of a woman’s freedom and fortune, contrasting the appearance...

In which the heroine, compelled by necessity and business acumen, travels to Holland to manage her financial affairs and contemplates the distinctions between the stations of mistress and wife with a keen and candid observation of their respective fortunes and miseries. She is unexpectedly reunited with her Parisian benefactor, whose honourable attentions lead them into intimate discourse and the...

In which a timely adviser's cunning stratagem effects the narrator’s furtive escape from imminent peril, securing passage and funds for her flight from France to England. Amidst the harrowing tempest at sea, the narrator and her companion confront the terror of death, provoking uneasy reflections on their past lives and fragile repentance.

In which our narrator, burdened with valuable jewels and no trustworthy contacts, seeks the aid of a Dutch merchant to convert and transfer her treasure safely to England, only to find herself embroiled in a fearful accusation involving a violent murder and stolen goods. The duplicity and threats of a furious Jew who claims the jewels are tied to the crime embroil her in a perilous dispute, compel...