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Gulliver's Travels [Barnes & Noble Classics Series] [B&N Classics] by Swift, Jonathan [Barnes & Noble Classics,2003] [Mass Market Paperback]
Gulliver's Travels . Barnes & Noble Classics, 2003.
Paperback
Published January 1, 2003
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About the author
Jonathan Swift
5,028 books2,165 followersJonathan Swift was an Anglo-Irish satirist, author, essayist, political pamphleteer (first for the Whigs, then for the Tories), poet, and Anglican cleric who became Dean of St Patrick's Cathedral, Dublin, hence his common sobriquet, "Dean Swift".
Swift is remembered for works such as A Tale of a Tub (1704), An Argument Against Abolishing Christianity (1712), Gulliver's Travels (1726), and A Modest Proposal (1729). He is regarded by the Encyclopædia Britannica as the foremost prose satirist in the English language. He originally published all of his works under pseudonyms—such as Lemuel Gulliver, Isaac Bickerstaff, M.B. Drapier—or anonymously. He was a master of two styles of satire, the Horatian and Juvenalian styles.
His deadpan, ironic writing style, particularly in A Modest Proposal, has led to such satire being subsequently termed "Swiftian".
Swift is remembered for works such as A Tale of a Tub (1704), An Argument Against Abolishing Christianity (1712), Gulliver's Travels (1726), and A Modest Proposal (1729). He is regarded by the Encyclopædia Britannica as the foremost prose satirist in the English language. He originally published all of his works under pseudonyms—such as Lemuel Gulliver, Isaac Bickerstaff, M.B. Drapier—or anonymously. He was a master of two styles of satire, the Horatian and Juvenalian styles.
His deadpan, ironic writing style, particularly in A Modest Proposal, has led to such satire being subsequently termed "Swiftian".
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Displaying 1 of 1 review
August 18, 2024
It's a classic that seeped in our generation via fables, legends, and cartoon animation. So I always wanted to read the original - not to mention it is a de rigeur material to study for Jeopardy!.
It starts off in a gripping manner. But after the first 3 parts, it starts to wear down. Gets repetititve and the final part borderlines on downright rant rather than some 'oh what a witty observation' and 'biting satire'.
This will still remain an early sci-fi novel in my book with anthropological descriptive narration. There are no dialogues and I was more curious about the latter stories other than Lilliput and the 'land of the giants' that everyone knows.
Who knew there would be an immortal alien-like race with red circles or a flying island or necromancy in Gulliver's Travels!
I am obviously not cognizant about the history and political milieuo of England circa Swift's era and circa Swift there were zillion references that I perhaps missed eventhough there were nice little annotations along the way.
It could have been a masterpiece if the final installment didn't linger on in the same manner as previous ones and there was some grand finale.
All in all, if you are in the mood for it, you will like it. Heck if someone is in the mood to read Romeo & Juliet, she will love that text. As long as the reader is not forced to finish it, it won't be a chore.
It starts off in a gripping manner. But after the first 3 parts, it starts to wear down. Gets repetititve and the final part borderlines on downright rant rather than some 'oh what a witty observation' and 'biting satire'.
This will still remain an early sci-fi novel in my book with anthropological descriptive narration. There are no dialogues and I was more curious about the latter stories other than Lilliput and the 'land of the giants' that everyone knows.
Who knew there would be an immortal alien-like race with red circles or a flying island or necromancy in Gulliver's Travels!
I am obviously not cognizant about the history and political milieuo of England circa Swift's era and circa Swift there were zillion references that I perhaps missed eventhough there were nice little annotations along the way.
It could have been a masterpiece if the final installment didn't linger on in the same manner as previous ones and there was some grand finale.
All in all, if you are in the mood for it, you will like it. Heck if someone is in the mood to read Romeo & Juliet, she will love that text. As long as the reader is not forced to finish it, it won't be a chore.
Displaying 1 of 1 review