Alexander Selkirk, arguably the most famous castaway in history, was born in Lower Largo, Fife, 350 years ago this year.

 Much has been written about his life but there is no unanimous agreement about the details of the story, given the dearth of written evidence. On the other hand, the fictional Robinson Crusoe, drawing heavily on the story of Selkirk’s four-and-a-half years on a Pacific island, is so well known that the real Alexander Selkirk is hard to find.

Using the available evidence, Ronnie Graham brings the story of Alexander Selkirk to life in an attempt to decide what kind of man he was – hero, anti-hero or ‘skellum’.

‘He diverted and provided for himself as well as he could; but for the first eight months had much ado to bear up against Melancholy, and the Terror of being left alone in such a desolate place.’

—from Woodes Rogers, A Cruising Voyage Round the World (1712)

THE AUTHOR

Ronnie Graham is a Scottish historian and the author of five books on various aspects of African history and popular culture, most notably a two-volume guide to contemporary African music: ‘Indispensable’ (New Society), ‘The essential work on the subject’ (Village Voice). His most recent book is Zanzibar:A People’s History.

Ronnie has contributed to many academic papers on the subject of eye health in Africa. In 2017 he returned to Largo, where he grew up, and now lives 100 yards from the Alexander Selkirk statue.