Roxana by Daniel Defoe (1724)

Name: Roxana
Author: Daniel Defoe

Roxana is a novel by Daniel Defoe, first published in 1724. It tells the story of a woman who, after being abandoned by her husband, is forced to make her own way in the world. Roxana is a beautiful and intelligent woman who is married to a wealthy merchant. When her husband dies, she is left with nothing and is forced to make her own way in the world. She moves to London and begins to make a living as a prostitute. Despite her desperate circumstances, Roxana is determined to make something of her life and eventually rises to become a successful courtesan. Throughout the novel, Roxana is faced with difficult moral choices. She must decide whether to remain true to her principles or to succumb to the temptations of wealth and power. In the end, she chooses to remain true to herself and her principles, and she is rewarded with a happy ending.

By Daniel Defoe · First published 1724 · Genre: Adventure Fiction, Historical Fiction, Romance Fiction · 30 chapters · 134,565 words

First lines

I was born, as my friends told me, at the city of Poitiers, in the province or county of Poitou in France, from whence I was brought to England by my parents, who fled for their religion about the year 1683, when the Protestants were banished from France by the cruelty of their persecutors.

I, who knew little or nothing of what I was brought over hither for, was well enough pleased with being here. London, a large and gay city, took with me mighty well, who from my being a child loved a crowd and to see a great many fine folks.

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Roxana is listed on Textopian as a novel by Daniel Defoe, dated 1724 CE.

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Work type: Novel
Author: Daniel Defoe
Date: 1724 CE
Language: English
Genres: Adventure Fiction, Historical Fiction, Romance Fiction, Satire
Length: 134,565 words
Structure: 30 chapters, 1,296 paragraphs
Reading fit: Fairly Difficult (10th-12th Grade)

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Discussion starters

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Similar titles

Genres

Adventure Fiction — The novel follows the titular character, Roxana, as she embarks on a journey of self-discovery and exploration, encountering a variety of people and situations along the way.
Historical Fiction — The novel is set in the early 18th century and is based on the life of a real-life woman, Roxana, who lived during this time period.
Romance Fiction — Roxana's journey is filled with romantic encounters, as she falls in and out of love with various men throughout the novel.
Satire — The novel is filled with satirical elements, as Defoe uses Roxana's story to comment on the social and moral issues of the time period.