1. Robinson Crusoe, born in 1632 in York, England, was a young man who dreamed of going to sea and having adventures. Against his family's wishes, he set sail on a ship bound for Africa, but the ship was wrecked in a storm and Crusoe was the only survivor.

2. He washes up on a deserted island and must learn to survive alone. Crusoe spends many years on the island, building himself a home and learning to hunt and farm for food. He eventually discovers that the island is not entirely deserted, and encounters a group of cannibals who use the island as a place to eat their prisoners.

3. Crusoe saves one of the cannibals and takes him as a slave, naming him "Friday." Together, they live on the island for 28 years. Finally, Crusoe helps a passing ship's captain to suppress a mutiny and returns to civilization, where he becomes a wealthy man.