In the evening of September 29, 1759, a cargo ship runs aground and is wrecked in a violent storm.

There is only one survivor, a young Englishman travelling to South America to seek his fortune.

His name? Robinson Crusoe. This is the ultimate "desert island" story - a tale of one man's struggle to survive on an untamed island.

It is a tale of ingenuity and endurance, as Robinson tries to establish himself as ruler of his natural surroundings.

The story has been told and retold many times, but here Michel Tournier offers a entirely new version.

At its heart is the relationship between Robinson and the Indian he rescues, Friday.

The two begin conventionally enough, as master and slave, but the roles are to shift dramatically...