...a lie. Defoe heightened the effect by stating in the Preface that the story of Robinson Crusoe was "a just history of fact; neither is there any appearance of fiction in it." Furthermore, his report of how he captured a goat is almost identical in style to that of Boyle or...

...by masquerading as true stories. Defoe begins his narrative of Robinson Crusoe by insisting that he "believes the thing to be a just History of Fact; neither is there any Appearance of fiction in it" (3). By this he means that within its fictional contract, the events laid out are strictly probable....

...to justify and honour the Wisdom of Providence in all the Variety of our Circumstances, let them 10 happen how they will. The Editor believes the thing...any Appearance of Fiction in it: And however thinks, because all such things are dispatch'd, that the Improvement of it, as well to the Diversion, as to...

...some intellectual authority. However, Defoe admitted in the preface that his realism was superficial: 'The Editor believes the thing to be a just History...neither is there any Appearance of Fiction in it' (Defoe 1719a: ii).20 Upon close inspection, the realistic appearance of the map, for example, proves...

...as had Aphra Behn and others, that his work is true. Defoe calls himself "editor" and says that he "believes the thing to be a just history of fact; neither is there any appearance of fiction in it. . . ."' This is a claim with which we are by now familiar, and it is not especially worthv of note....

...some inrellectual aurhotity. However, Defoe admitred in the preface that his realism was superficial: 'The Editor believes the thing to be a just History of Fact; neither is there any Appeatance of Fiction in it (Defoe 1719a: ii).-" Upon close inspection, the realistic appeatance of...

...and to Iustify and honour the Wisdom of Providence in all the Variety of our Circumstances, let them happen how they will. The Editor believes the thing...Appearance of Fiction in it : And however thinks, because all such things are dispatch' d, that the Improvement of it, as well to the Diversion, as to...

...Haywood 24), and he had done so with the deadpan prefatory "editorial" comment: "the thing [seems] to be a just history of fact; neither is there any appearance of fiction in it" (Defoe 25). Idolized by early Victorians until publication of damaging political material about its...

...factual or fictional status, especially with regard to either discursive mode's moral effectiveness: "The Editor believes the thing to be a just History...Fact; neither is there any Appearance of Fiction in it:And however thinks, because all such things are dispatch'd, that the Improvement of it, as well...

...whose history is backed up by Defoe's own authority as 'editor ' . Thus in his 'Preface', he asserts: 'The Editor believes the thing to be a just history...neither is there any appearance of fiction in it' (Defoe 1987: 1). Susan's narratorial authority, on the other hand, is undermined from the beginning...