Daisuke Takahashi, a world traveler and Elected Fellow of both the Explorers Club in New York and the Royal Geographical Society in London, lives in Japan. In Search of Robinson Crusoe was recently published in Japan to great acclaim.
Alexander Selkirk's life as a castaway for four years and four
months on Juan Fernandez Island may have provided the donné for
Defoe's Robinson Crusoe. A Fellow of the Explorers Club of New York
City and the Royal Geographical Society of London, Mr. Takahashi
has written a gripping and graphic account of his personal quest to
simulate the Crusoe castaway experience through a modern
reenactment of Selkirk's survival on his desolate island nearly
three hundred years ago.
*Dr. Michael Shinagel, Senior Lecturer on English, Harvard
University, and editor of The Norton Critical Edition of
Robinson Crusoe*
Both Alexander Selkirk and Robinson Crusoe remain compelling
figures that continue to fascinate readers. I very much enjoyed
reading how Defoe's imaginary journey has been relived by Daisuke
Takahashi and also how he makes Selkirk come to life. An original
and truly rewarding venture!
*Lieve Spaas, Research Professor of Arts and Culture at Kingston
University and co-editor of Robinson Crusoe: Myths and
Metamorphoses*
This is a remarkable book, part personal journey of revelation,
part historical detective hunt for some fugitive remnants of the
real life of the world's most famous castaway, whose life has been
long shrouded in mystery and speculation.
*Ross MacPhee, co-curator of "The Endurance: Shackleton's Legendary
Expedition" exhibit at the American Museum of Natural History*
Originally published in Takahashi's native Japan to great praise,
this engaging travel memoir offers an interesting blend of literary
research and adventure writing.
*Library Journal*
This book seeks to discover the actual man and adventures behind
the remarkable life of Scottish sailor Alexander Selkirk, the
"real-life Robinson Cruseo" who inspired Daniel Defoe's classic
novel of the castaway's ordeal and survival.
*South American Explorer*
Takahashi set out to discover the real man behind Daniel Defoe's
creation Robinson Crusoe, the Scots sailor Alexander Selkirk
(1676-1721). His seven year quest took him to libraries and museums
in England and Scotland and to Robinson Crusoe Island off the coast
of Chile. There he lived without modern equipment and searched for
signs of Selkirk's five year stay. The book has maps and photos,
including a coconut cup taht belonged to Selkirk.
*Pbs Teacher Source*
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