Robinson Crusoe was inspired by a real-life castaway. In 1705, Alexander Selkirk, a Scotsman, argued angrily with the captain of his ship over whether their boat was too leaky to sail. After the boat stopped to get fresh water at an island in the Pacific Ocean, Selkirk refused to go back on board. So the captain left him there alone with a Bible, a gun, a kettle, and a few tools and supplies. Four and a half years later another English ship visiting the island saw a signal fire and found Selkirk still alive. Today the island is named for him. Selkirk lived off goat meat and what he called 'cabbages that grow on trees.' He slept in a hut made of branches and wore goatskin clothes, though for a while he went naked. He was very fit and could catch goats to eat even though he was running barefoot. The sailors who found him said he lookded wild. He had mostly forgotten how to speak and at first could say only parts of words. The Core Classic series offers young readers abridged texts faithful in themes, style and spirit to the original classic stories.
