Severin, who has written books on the Crusades, Genghis Khan, Marco Polo, and Moby Dick, sets out on the trail of Daniel Defoe's inspiration for Robinson Crusoe. Relying on the seamen's tales used by Defoe for his story, Severin traveled to remote parts of South America where he sought out details of geography, weather, sea travel, and native peoples. There is no index. Annotation c. Book News, Inc. , Portland, OR (booknews. com)