The classic tale of Robinson Crusoe, stranded for years on a desert island, is usually thought to have been inspired by the real life castaway Alexander Selkirk, who was similarly marooned in the Pacific during the 17th century.

But now it seems the actual inspiration for author Daniel Defoe may have been a landowner from Wimbledon, one Robert Knox, who was held captive for 19 years in what today is Sri Lanka.

Knox, a resident of Wimbledon Village who also owned land in today’s Colliers Wood, finally escaped and wrote a best-selling book about his adventures entitled An Historical Relation Of The Island Of Ceylon, In The East-Indies: Together With An Account Of The Detaining In Captivity Of The Author And Divers Other Englishmen Now Living There, And Of The Author's Miraculous Escape.

Some of his descriptions bear an uncanny resemblance to Defoe’s story of Robinson Crusoe, published in 1719, and as Defoe would have read the book before writing his own, it may be more than a coincidence.

Modern writer Katherine Frank will reveal all at Wimbledon Village Hall on Saturday, 12 November (2pm) when she gives a talk on her new book Crusoe: Daniel Defoe, Robert Knox and the Creation of a Myth.

Her Richard Milward Memorial Lecture will mark the fifth anniversary of the death of the Wimbledon historian who first confirmed Robert Knox’s local links but without any reference to Crusoe.

Knox, who lived from 1642 to 1720, was a sea captain working for Britain’s East India Company.

He was captured by Rajasingha, a Sinhalese despot, while visiting the country to repair his ship’s masts.

In his book published 20 years later, Knox wrote about leaving misleading footprints in the sand by walking backwards.

That’s an important part of the Robinson Crusoe story and it was also Daniel Defoe who first mentioned Ceylon in English fiction.

Katherine Frank spotted this when researching a biography of Defoe and believes she has finally uncovered the true origins of Robinson Crusoe after nearly 300 years.

The Wimbledon Society is working with the Wimbledon Guardian to ensure that you, the readers, can share the fascinating discoveries that continue to emerge about our local heritage.

For more information, visit wimbledonsociety.org.uk and www.wimbledonmuseum.org.uk.

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