Skip to main content Accessibility help

We use cookies to distinguish you from other users and to provide you with a better experience on our websites. Close this message to accept cookies or find out how to manage your cookie settings.

Close cookie message
×
  1. Home
  2. Search

Refine search

Refine search

Access:
Content type:
Publication date:
Apply   From and To filters
Subject: Show more
Journals Show more
Publishers: Show more
Societies Show more
Series: Show more
Collections: Show more

Actions for selected content:

Select all | Deselect all
  • View selected items
  • Export citations
  • Download PDF (zip)
  • Save to Kindle
  • Save to Dropbox
  • Save to Google Drive

Save Search

You can save your searches here and later view and run them again in "My saved searches".

Please provide a title, maximum of 40 characters.
Cancel
×

1 results

  • Chapter 11 - Defoe on Bristol

  • from Part 3 - Place
  • Pat Rogers, University of South Florida
  • Book:
    Defoe's Tour and Early Modern Britain
    Published online:
    04 February 2022
    Print publication:
    17 February 2022, pp 232-249

  • Summary

    Other sections of this book concern matters relating to the overall design of the Tour. By contrast, Chapter 11 provides a case study concerned with a specific locality, namely the Bristol region – again this section has never been given detailed attention before. Defoe had a solid working knowledge of the place, still third in size (behind Norwich) and second in overall importance to London among English cities. In particular, he had a firm grasp of the ways in which Bristol contributed to the national economy. He understood the way in which overseas and domestic trade operated, and explains the commercial ties to hinterland in Wales, the Midlands and the South West, maintained by road and river. Consideration is given to the author’s links with the Bristol mercantile community, seeking to dispel the uncorroborated story of his dealings with the castaway Alexander Selkirk, but suggesting a possible link with leading figures in the city who were in business with the iron founder Abraham Darby I.