Chapter 11 - Defoe on Bristol

Summary

Other sections of this book concern matters relating to the overall design of the Tour. By contrast, Chapter 11 provides a case study concerned with a specific locality, namely the Bristol region – again this section has never been given detailed attention before. Defoe had a solid working knowledge of the place, still third in size (behind Norwich) and second in overall importance to London among English cities. In particular, he had a firm grasp of the ways in which Bristol contributed to the national economy. He understood the way in which overseas and domestic trade operated, and explains the commercial ties to hinterland in Wales, the Midlands and the South West, maintained by road and river. Consideration is given to the author’s links with the Bristol mercantile community, seeking to dispel the uncorroborated story of his dealings with the castaway Alexander Selkirk, but suggesting a possible link with leading figures in the city who were in business with the iron founder Abraham Darby I.