The Daniel Defoe Library

In which the lady, under close and costly surveillance to avoid an indolent and harmless-seeming foe, embarks upon a secretive and lavish journey through Italy with a noble prince, enjoying his exclusive company and receiving his generous favour despite the complexities of his matrimonial ties. Upon their return to Paris, the prince’s sudden turn to piety following his wife’s death leads to a cour...

In which the narrative unfolds a melancholy reunion between Amy and a gentleman, revealing his destitution and false claims while recounting the misfortunes that befell his former family. Their discourse, marked by feigned sorrows and cunning deceit, exposes the gentleman's scoundrel character and prompts a wary withdrawal of any intended charity, as prudence dictates avoiding further entanglement...

In which the narrative recounts a period of luxurious indulgence purchased by a prince’s favour, the quiet anxieties and practical arrangements surrounding her pregnancy, and the challenging realities faced by the child of such a union in society’s eyes. An unexpected encounter with a past husband amidst the splendour of royal surroundings introduces a hint of complication and reflection, as loyal...

In which the narrator recounts the careful precautions taken to keep her liaison with a prince discreet, while she luxuriates in his abundant gifts and close companionship, amidst the busy intrigues of Parisian society. She reflects on the peculiar ease with which she justifies her conduct to herself, and on the curious vanity and folly of men who lavish immense wealth on women of ill repute, elev...

In which the widowed Roxana receives a surprising and gracious visit from a prince, whose kindness and compliments stir both consolation and vanity within her. The prince's attentions grow intimate and flattering, leading Roxana into a complex alliance that blurs the lines between gratitude, desire, and the exercise of power.

In which the lady recounts her troubled domestic circumstances marked by uneasy affections and secret pregnancies, before accompanying her gentleman to Paris where an unforeseen tragedy abruptly transforms her fortunes and place in society. Despite her sorrow, she moves with tact and grace among the city's elite, finding new recognition and a measure of comfort as a widow of notable standing.

In which a gentleman, newly returned from London, warmly courts the narrator with gifts and legal assurances of support, persuading her through kindness and circumstance to accept their unconventional union despite her moral scruples. The evening’s gaiety takes a darker turn as the complexities of their situation unsettle them both, culminating in a scene that irrevocably alters the lives and virt...

In which the narrator finds herself in a new, desolate condition of life, struggling with poverty and the kindness of a landlord who, moved by her misfortunes and virtuous conduct, endeavours to assist her with food, furniture, and a plan for subsistence. Through these trials, the complexities of human kindness, fidelity, and the heavy burden of gratitude are delicately unfolded, revealing how vir...

In which the narrator finds herself plunged into such dire poverty that she contemplates parting with her young children for their survival, aided by the kindness of a faithful maid and compassionate neighbours who endeavour to secure the children's welfare. Meanwhile, familial disputes arise over charity and obligation, but ultimately a relative assumes the responsibility to provide for the child...

In which the narrator impartially describes her husband as a handsome yet foolish and incapable man, whose mismanagement leads to the loss of their fortunes and eventual disappearance, leaving her in desperate circumstances with five children. She recounts her fruitless attempts to seek assistance from his relations, her mounting distress, and her reluctant reliance on tears and scant charity to b...

In which the narrator recounts her early years, tracing her journey from France to England as a refugee child, and describes her upbringing amidst the varied fortunes of her family and community. She portrays herself as a lively and accomplished young woman, receiving a considerable portion and entering into marriage, thus setting the stage for the events to follow.

In which the narrator refrains from casting harsh judgment on the misdeeds and ingratitude observed amidst the calamity, acknowledging his own witness to such human frailties. He concludes his account of the dreadful year with a heartfelt, unpolished verse that solemnly commemorates the vast loss and his own survival.

In which the sombre terror of the plague’s relentless march is suddenly and wondrously arrested by a mysterious and divine abatement, causing multitudinous hearts to lift from despair to praise. The city’s streets, once shadowed by dread, become scenes of astonished joy and thankful voices, as the sick begin to recover and neighbours greet each other with a new and tender familiarity.

In which the prudent and cautious employ various methods to purify their homes, from burning fragrant incense to firing gunpowder, with some extreme measures leading to accidental destruction, whilst the wealthy are slower to return to the city amid the lingering pestilence. It is observed with sober reflection that the plague spares the fleet though it ravages the town, and amid widespread despai...

In which the absence of mountebanks from London during the plague gave rise to various conjectures, and the learned physicians maintained that the plague itself sufficed as a cleansing remedy, thus leaving little room for quack remedies; whilst persistent rumours and fears of relapse kept the city in unease until the winter weather restored health by February. The account further recounts the conc...

In which the author diligently records the heavy toll the plague exacted upon various professions, notably the courage and sacrifice of civil officers amidst overwhelming mortality, while reflecting on the human response marred by both bravery and folly. He also contemplates the myriad remedial medicines of the time, sharing the considered view of a physician friend on their varied formulations an...

In which the people’s rash confidence in the lessening plague brought ruin upon many, despite the physicians’ earnest warnings and the ministers’ admonitions to remain vigilant, while the city’s health slowly returned amidst the stirring population and lingering fears. The dire necessity of new burial grounds and the strained charity during the convalescence revealed much of human nature, as coura...

In which the commerce of England during the plague year met with unusual interruptions and adaptations, as trades faltered and flourished in turn, and the prudence of city officials maintained certain necessary supplies despite great difficulties. The narrative further observes the gradual abatement of the pestilence’s fatality, noting both the population’s cautious hope and the imprudent boldness...

In which the perplexities of detecting and understanding the plague’s contagion are discussed, alongside the prolonged silent intervals of the disease’s appearance and the widespread human frailty in confronting its terror. The narrative observes the charitable relief efforts and the grave impact upon trade, whilst reflecting on the fearful rumours abroad that magnified the city’s affliction beyon...

In which the grievous toll of the plague is enumerated with particular attention to the districts most afflicted, and the inscrutable manner by which the infection silently spreads among the seemingly healthy is most fully described. The narrative further endeavours to reconcile the natural propagation of this distemper with divine providence, offering reflections on human behaviour and the limita...

In which the author gives a sober account of the city’s dreadful condition during the height of the plague, observing the harrowing sights and the tireless efforts of the magistrates to maintain order, supply, and burial rites amidst overwhelming mortality. He notes the shifting epicentres of infection across the parishes, the disappearance of fortune-tellers, and the cautious yet compassionate st...

In which the futility of shutting up infected houses is meticulously examined, revealing the clandestine escapes and concealments that undermined such measures and rendered them ineffective against the swift and secret spread of the plague. The narrative then turns to the profound despair and altered behaviours of the afflicted city’s inhabitants, including a surprising mingling of denominations i...

In which the hardships inflicted upon those fleeing the plague, the strict measures taken by magistrates to confine the infected, and the poignant struggles between public safety and private suffering are candidly observed, revealing a city wrestling with mercy, fear, and order amidst calamity. The narrative further explores the perplexities of contagion, the dangers posed by delirious sufferers,...

In which a company of Londoners, fleeing the plague, establish themselves in the forests near Epping and are met with suspicion and charity in equal measure as they endeavour to live honestly and avoid bringing infection to the countryside. Through the kindness of local gentlemen and prudent leadership, they struggle against poverty, cold, and the spreading sickness, ultimately seeking shelter in...

In which our travellers, encountering a company of distressed refugees fleeing the plague, engage in cautious parley and mutual reassurance as they seek shelter and safety outside the city. They face suspicion and denial from country townsfolk, leading to a tense negotiation in which the travellers feign a martial posture to secure passage and provisions whilst maintaining their plea for mercy and...