The Lay-Man's Sermon Upon the Late Storm

‘The Lay-Man's Sermon Upon the Late Storm’ is a thought-provoking political pamphlet written by Daniel Defoe. In this essay, Defoe discusses the Church of England’s reaction to the great storm of 1703 that killed over a thousand people in England. The Church claimed that those who died deserved it for their sins and Defoe smartly and satirically disputes this line of thought. In an original and witty manner, Defoe claims that 18th Century England would put moderates to death as extreme views were the norm. Defoe’s writings on religion and politics were controversial at the time and led to him being imprisoned but they also influenced many other politicians. This book remains relevant as it preaches centrism and peace in a fractured society. ‘The Lay-Man’s Sermon Upon the Late Storm’ should be read by anyone interested in politics and religion as it provides great insight into an interesting time in history.
Daniel Defoe (1660 – 1731) is one of the most important authors in the English language. Defoe was one of the original English novelists and greatly helped to popularise the form. Defoe was highly prolific and is believed to have written over 300 works ranging from novels to political pamphlets. He was highly celebrated but also controversial as his writings influenced politicians but also led to Defoe being imprisoned. Defoe’s novels have been translated into many languages and are still read across the globe to this day. Some of his most famous books include ‘Moll Flanders’ and ‘Robinson Crusoe’ which was adapted into a movie starring Pierce Brosnan and Damian Lewis in 1997. Defoe’s influence on English novels cannot be understated and his legacy lives on to this day.