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John Gow was a notorious pirate whose short career inspired many writers of the day, among them Sir Walter Scott and Daniel Defoe. Growing up in Stromness, Orkney, an important international port of the time, the lure of the sea was inescapable for many young men and Gow was no exception. Legend has it that he ran away to sea at an early age, but little is actually known about his life before the fateful trip from Amsterdam on board the Caroline. Dissatisfied with life as a humble sailor, the ambitious Gow led a mutiny, propelling him to the rank of Captain. After his exploits in France, Spain and Portugal, Gow retreated back to Orkney where he tried to resume a sedate life as a trader. But it was just a matter of time before temptation got the better of him and the authorities were to track him down . . . About the Author Daniel Defoe (c. 1659 - 24 April 1731), born Daniel Foe, was an English writer, journalist, and pamphleteer, who gained enduring fame for his novel Robinson Crusoe. Defoe is notable for being one of the earliest practitioners of the novel, as he helped to popularise the form in Britain, and is even referred to by some as one of the founders of the English novel. A prolific and versatile writer, he wrote more than five hundred books, pamphlets, and journals on various topics (including politics, crime, religion, marriage, psychology and the supernatural).

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Daniel Defoe (c.1660-1731), affectionately known as the father of the English novel, was a prolific writer, but he only started writing later on in life. From humble beginnings as a son of a butcher, Defoe became a successful hosiery merchant. He had strong political views, and as well as becoming a spy for William III he single-handedly produced a pro-government newspaper, The Review. Undoubtedly his most famous novel, Robinson Crusoe, is famous around the world and secured his place in the history books.

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