Why is Robinson Crusoe still widely read today?

Answer 1

Generally, it is considered by many not to be the first English novel. That milestone is more frequently attributed to Moll Flanders--a later novel by Defoe. For some, Robinson Crusoe still resides within the earlier traditions of "romance"--a loose and general term used to describe the forms of fictional writing prior to and contrasted with the novel. However, for those who do make the case that Crusoe is the first novel, they will generally try to isolate the defining aspects of the novel and make the case that they are present in Crusoe (e.g. a preoccupation with interiority and personal growth as opposed to outward action, realism as opposed to romantic abstraction, modern and historical concerns as opposed to timeless universals, etc.). For a good and accessible entry way into the debate (and still very influential reading of the early novel), consult Ian Watt's Rise of the Novel: Studies in Defoe, Richardson, and Fielding--particularly the introductory chapters and the chapters devoted to reading Crusoe and Flanders. For a shorter summary of the many literary debates surrounding Crusoe, see Thomas Keymer's introduction to the Oxford World's Classic edition of Robinson Crusoe.

Answer 2

Its themes and questions are still relevant.

Not only that, but its visualization techniques still affect how novels are structured today. It also provides an insight into the colonial philosophies of the time.