The Incredible De Foe By William Freeman

Pre-owned. The astonishing versatility of Daniel De Foe’s genius was strangely matched to the ever changing chain of momentous events through which he lived. In the course of five reigns, he survived the Plague of London, and the Great Fire, and he witnessed the effect of Monmouth’s Rebellion, the Abdication of the last Stuart, and the Accession of William of Orange. His works, including the eternal Robinson Crusoe, comprised four novels, a ghost story that has become a classic, our best account of the Plague, a History of the Devil, biographies of Jack Sheppard and Rob Roy, poetry and tracts on every conceivable subject.
He wrote with his own hand a thrice-weekly newspaper.
De Foe’s personal adventures were varied enough to crowd the lives of half a dozen men. He travelled extensively on the Continent, was twice made bankrupt, twice imprisoned in Newgate. For three days he stood in the pillory. He was a confidential friend of William III, and helped Queen Mary to lay out Kensington and Hampton Court gardens. He was accountant to the Commissioners of the Glass Duty, and a Supervisor of Public Lotteries. He was one of the most zealous informers ever employed by the British Government! This is an important biography of a prodigious character who lived in prodigious times: certainly in choosing The Incredible De Foe as the title of this book, William Freeman has been guilty of no overstatement. Bound in red cloth with gilt titling to spine. A good unclipped dustjacket with a little scufing and a tear on the back at top right. Some tanning to edges and pages. Hardcover. Published by Herbert Jenkins Limited 1950