The author of Robinson Crusoe and Moll Flanders travelled extensively as a merchant and agent of the King during the late 17th and early 1th centuries, visiting Liverpool on a number of occasions. These travels are recounted in A tour Through The Whole Island Of Great Britain.
Defoe calls Liverpool 'one of the wonders of Britain'. On his first visit c.1680 he described the town as 'large, handsome, well built and increasing or thriving town' and by 1690, he saw how much bigger it had become. By the time of his 3rd visit some twenty or so years later the town had doubled in size since his previous stay. He wrote 'there is no town in England, London excepted, that can equal Liverpool for the fineness of the streets and beauty of the buildings.' |
