Published as three volumes in 1727, the first two volumes represent the life of one Peter Quarll, a rogue or picaresque hero. The third volume represents his being shipwrecked on a desert island, and surviving there very contentedly until he is visited by one Edward Dorrington (originally credited as the novel's author). Quarll gives Dorrington the manuscript which forms the basis for the novel. This novel is now little known but it achieved 16 editions up to 1870 and was evidently very popular. We would be very interested in publishing a profile of this novel. A digital copy of the fourth edition of 1768 has been produced by Google and is now fortunately available via the British Library website…

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Citation: Clark, Robert. "The English Hermit, or the Unparalell'd and Surprizing Adventures of One Philip Quarll, Who Was Lately Found in an Uninhabited Island in the South Sea". The Literary Encyclopedia. First published 02 March 2019 [https://www.litencyc.com/php/sworks.php?rec=true&UID=38948, accessed 23 November 2024.]