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a description of a city shower
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About the author
Jonathan Swift
4,949 books2,246 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 - 3 of 3 reviews
November 13, 2020
Now from all parts the swelling kennels flow, /
And bear their trophies with them as they go: /
Filth of all hues and odors seem to tell /
What street they sailed from, by their sight and smell. /
They, as each torrent drives with rapid force, /
From Smithfield or St. Pulchre’s shape their course, /
And in huge confluence joined at Snow Hill ridge, /
Fall from the conduit prone to Holborn Bridge. /
Sweepings from butchers’ stalls, dung, guts, and blood, /
Drowned puppies, stinking sprats, all drenched in mud, /
Dead cats, and turnip tops, come tumbling down the flood.
And bear their trophies with them as they go: /
Filth of all hues and odors seem to tell /
What street they sailed from, by their sight and smell. /
They, as each torrent drives with rapid force, /
From Smithfield or St. Pulchre’s shape their course, /
And in huge confluence joined at Snow Hill ridge, /
Fall from the conduit prone to Holborn Bridge. /
Sweepings from butchers’ stalls, dung, guts, and blood, /
Drowned puppies, stinking sprats, all drenched in mud, /
Dead cats, and turnip tops, come tumbling down the flood.
November 25, 2022
A bleak contrast to Coleridge's Kubla Khan in many ways. Here, Nature is the enemy of society, and exposes its flaws. Swift seems to believe that humanity and Nature are not compatible. In Coleridge's case, the Khan draws power from Nature and their relationship is harmonious.
November 14, 2024
Purportedly, the origin of the phrase: “it’s raining cats and dogs”. From back in ye goode olde days when streets and sewers were synonymous.
Displaying 1 - 3 of 3 reviews