PDF Nathan Hale: The Life and Death of America's First Spy by M. William Phelps in History

Description

Daniel Defoe ; born Daniel Foe; was an English writer; journalist; and pamphleteer; who gained enduring fame for his novel Robinson Crusoe. Defoe is notable for being one of the earliest proponents of the novel; as he helped to popularize the form in Britain; and is even referred to by some as among the founders of the English novel. Excerpts from this work of his: ...I doubt not but the title of this book will amuse some of my reading friends a little at first; they will make a pause; perhaps; as they do at a witch's prayer; and be some time resolving whether they had best look into it or not; lest they should really raise the Devil by reading his story. ...It must certainly therefore be a most useful undertaking to give the true history of this Tyrant of the air; this God of the world; this terror and aversion of mankind; which we call Devil; to show what he is; and what he is not; where he is; and where he is not; when he is in us; and when he is not; for I cannot doubt but that the Devil is really and bona fide in a great many of our honest weak-headed friends; when they themselves know nothing of the matter.