The Consolidator; or, Memoirs of Sundry Transactions from the World in the Moon

Daniel DefoeProject Gutenberg · United StatesDec 2019

Rating 3.1

Word count: 359K words
Chapters: 36

Summary

Project Gutenberg was the first provider of free electronic books, or eBooks. Michael Hart, founder of Project Gutenberg, invented eBooks in 1971 and his memory continues to inspire the creation of eBooks and related technologies today.The Consolidator; or, Memoirs of Sundry Transactions from the World in the MoonAuthor: Defoe, Daniel, 1661?-1731,Language: English, Class: PR: Language and Literatures: English literature, Release Date: Dec 1, 2004

Editor's review

Defoe's The Consolidator; or, Memoirs of Sundry Transactions from the World in the Moon is often placed in the tradition of early science fiction or utopian satire, using lunar observations to mirror English reality. The book unfolds in memoir-like narration, interweaving exotic observation with political, religious and social commentary, bearing the acerbity and fancy of the polemical writing of the late seventeenth and early eighteenth centuries. Its pleasure lies not in tight plotting but in how the narrator uses the lunar frame to reflect domestic institutions and mores; for readers familiar with the realistic manner of Defoe's Robinson Crusoe, this book reveals another side of his satire and speculation. The text is early, and its syntax and allusions pose barriers for modern readers; it suits extended reading in English literary history, early science fiction or satire. It is advisable to learn the general historical background first, then read by topic rather than forcing a single full read.

Who it's for

A good fit for

Readers interested in the origins of early science fiction or lunar voyage themes
Literary scholars studying Defoe's non-fiction writing and satirical techniques
Readers who enjoy utopian, exotic-observation narratives and are willing to research historical background
Students needing to expand their range of early eighteenth-century satirical texts in English literature courses

Not a good fit for

General fiction readers expecting tight adventure plots and vivid characters
Beginners who need modern plain-language translation or detailed notes to read smoothly
Readers uninterested in seventeenth- and eighteenth-century British political and religious controversy

Reading tips

Read an overview of the political and religious background of Defoe's time first, then enter the text to reduce obstacles from allusions.
Treat the lunar observations as a satirical frame, noting as you read the domestic institutions and mores they mirror.
Read alongside other lunar voyage or utopian texts to observe similarities and differences in early science-fictional imagination.
Do not read straight through; select chapters by political, religious or social topic, keeping questions in mind.

About the publisher

Project Gutenberg United States · Founded in 1971

Project Gutenberg is a digital publishing project focused on public-domain ebooks. Its publishing direction centers on classic literary works whose copyright has expired, covering genres such as poetry, drama, fiction, and epic. Representative books include Lyrical Ballads by Wordsworth and Coleridge, Proust's Du côté de chez Swann, Shakespeare's Macbeth and The Complete Works of William Shakespeare, Homer's The Iliad, Dante's La Divina Comèdia: Purgatòri, Cervantes's The History of Don Quixote, Volume 2, and Grahame's The Wind in the Willows. Its author resources consist mainly of classic Western writers such as Wordsworth, Proust, Shakespeare, Homer, Dante, Cervantes, Grahame, and Tolstoy. Its publishing feature is the provision of freely accessible ebooks in EPUB and Kindle formats; it is not a traditional publisher, and publicly available information is limited.

FAQ

Is this book considered a science fiction novel?

It is often discussed within the tradition of early science fiction or lunar voyages, but it is closer to satirical and speculative narrative built on an exotic frame; scientific imagination is not the focus. Reading it as science fiction will disappoint; it is better treated as a text in the satirical and utopian traditions.

Can one read it without background in British history?

One can read it, but understanding will be reduced. The book alludes extensively to seventeenth- and eighteenth-century British political, religious and social controversy; without background one may see only fancy and miss the satirical edge. It is advisable to supplement a concise historical background or choose an annotated edition.

Is its style close to Robinson Crusoe?

The difference is marked. Robinson Crusoe excels in realistic detail and individual experience, while this book leans toward memoir-like observation and polemical satire, with loose plot and dense argument. Those familiar with Defoe's fiction can see here the speculative and satirical side of his writing.

Is the electronic edition suitable for linear reading?

Linear reading is not essential. The text is dense with argument and allusions, and linear reading can be tiring. A more feasible approach is to read by topic or chapter, pausing after each passage to sort out the real-world issues it mirrors, then decide whether to continue.

This site is an index: you start “Search all sources” in your browser, and the entries it lists all point to third-party sites; please judge their availability yourself.

About the author

Daniel Defoe Author · British · 1660–1731

Daniel Defoe (1661?–1731) was an English novelist, political writer and journalist, and a founding figure of realist fiction in the English Enlightenment. His birth year is recorded variously; the library lists 1660, and he died in 1731. A prolific author, he is represented here by 59 works, the best known being Robinson Crusoe, alongside Moll Flanders and A Journal of the Plague Year. His novels often follow individual fortunes and adventures, written in a plain, concrete and realistic style that presents characters' circumstances and choices in unadorned narrative, and his influence on the development of English realist fiction is far-reaching. Commonly classified under inspirational growth, his works are still read today as important accounts of endurance and self-reliance.