Final answer:
Daniel Defoe's 'Robinson Crusoe' is often considered the first true English sea novel, exhibiting core characteristics of the genre and reflecting 18th-century maritime themes.
Step-by-step explanation:
The Emergence of the English Sea Novel
The first true English sea novel is a subject of debate among literary scholars, but Daniel Defoe's Robinson Crusoe is frequently considered a strong contender. Defoe's novel, detailing the experiences of a lone castaway on a deserted island, has many elements of sea literature and has been influential in the genre. Although Robinson Crusoe is often categorized as an adventure novel, its extensive depiction of seafaring and island survival has contributed to its recognition as a seminal sea novel.
Novels emerged in the 18th century and quickly gained popularity, offering new opportunities for readers, particularly women, to interpret literature independently. Robinson Crusoe, published in 1719, reflects the evolving literary tastes of the period, embodying the elements of adventure, travel, and self-reliance at sea that characterize sea novels. Its narrative not only includes sea travel but also engages with themes of exploration and colonialism, resonating with the era's maritime culture and burgeoning British Empire.