RobinsonCrusoeisayouthofabouteighteenyearsoldwhoresidesinHull,England.Althoughhisfatherwisheshimtobecomealawyer,Crusoedreamsofgoingonseavoyages.Hedisregardsthefactthathistwoolderbrothersaregonebecauseoftheirneedforadventure.Hisfathercautionsthatamiddle-classexistenceisthemoststable.Robinsonignoreshim.Whenhisparentsrefusetolethimtakeatleastonejourney,herunsawaywithafriendandsecuresfreepassagetoLondon.Misfortunebeginsimmediately,intheformofroughweather.TheshipisforcedtolandatYarmouth.WhenCrusoe'sfriendlearnsthecircumstancesunderwhichhelefthisfamily,hebecomesangryandtellshimthatheshouldhavenevercometothesea.Theypart,andCrusoemakeshiswaytoLondonvialand.Hethinksbrieflyaboutgoinghome,butcannotstandtobehumiliated.HemanagestofindanothervoyageheadedtoGuiana.Oncethere,hewantstobecomeatrader.Ontheway,theshipisattackedbyTurkishpirates,whobringthecrewandpassengersintotheMoorishportofSallee.Robinsonismadeaslave.Fortwoyearsheplansanescape.AnopportunityispresentedwhenheissentoutwithtwoMoorishyouthstogofishing.Crusoethrowsoneoverboard,andtellstheotherone,calledXury,thathemaystayifheisfaithful.Theyanchoronwhatappearstobeuninhabitedland.Soontheyseethatblackpeoplelivethere.ThesenativesareveryfriendlytoCrusoeandXury.Atonepoint,thetwoseeaPortugueseshipinthedistance.Theymanagetopaddleafteritandgettheattentionofthoseonboard.ThecaptainiskindandsayshewilltakethemaboardforfreeandbringthemtoBrazil.