How quickly did Robinson Crusoe become popular after its publication?

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Daniel Defoe Daniel Defoe, engraving by M. Van der Gucht, after a portrait by J. Taverner, first half of the 18th century.

Robinson Crusoe was an immediate success in Britain following its publication in 1719. The novel achieved such popularity that it went through multiple editions within just a few months of its release.1

Its appeal extended rapidly beyond Britain, as translations were quickly published across the European continent. The book's success was so significant that it immediately inspired a wave of imitations known as Robinsonades, and the high demand prompted Daniel Defoe to write a sequel, The Farther Adventures of Robinson Crusoe, which was also published in 1719.1