The short story is often viewed as an inferior relation to the Novel. But it is an art in itself. To take a story and distil its essence into fewer pages while keeping character and plot rounded and driven is not an easy task. Many try and many fail. In this series we look at short stories from many of our most accomplished writers. Miniature masterpieces with a lot to say. In this volume we examine some of the short stories of Daniel Defoe.Daniel Defoe is most well-known for his classic novels Robinson Crusoe and Moll Flanders. Born circa 1659, he was also a journalist, a pamphleteer, a businessman, a spy ... and a writer of short stories. His life was long and colourful, and the breadth of his work, still highly regarded, is infused with similar vigor.In these short stories, Defoe succinctly emblazons his style upon subjects as diverse as apparitions, pirates, and politics. Defoe unfortunately often ran up large bills which could then not be repaid. He was often most seen on Sundays when bailiffs and the like legally could make no move on him. Allegedly whilst hiding from creditors he died on April 24th 1731. He was interred in Bunhill Fields, London.