Satire and the Correspondence of Swift

Satire and the Correspondence of Swift
Author: Craig Hawkins Ulman
Publisher: Harvard University Press
Total Pages: 68
Release: 1973
Genre: Biography & Autobiography
ISBN: 9780674789760

Since the first secret publication, in 1740, of part of his correspondence with Alexander Pope, Jonathan Swift's letters have become a standard source for his biographers and critics. Craig Ulman argues that the letters are not entirely reliable for biographical fact and have often been taken too literally. In this readable essay, Ulman surveys the satiric material in Swift's correspondence, highlighting his wit. The author views Swift's epistolary writing as very much a literary endeavor. He examines the pose and the persona and discusses the satiric methods the letters share with Swift's other published works.

Critical Companion to Jonathan Swift

Critical Companion to Jonathan Swift
Author: Paul J. DeGategno
Publisher: Infobase Publishing
Total Pages: 481
Release: 2014-05-14
Genre: Authors, Irish
ISBN: 1438108516

Provides a comprehensive alphabetical reference to the life and work of Jonathan Swift.

Jonathan Swift (Routledge Revivals)

Jonathan Swift (Routledge Revivals)
Author: Alan Downie
Publisher: Routledge
Total Pages: 410
Release: 2014-07-11
Genre: Literary Criticism
ISBN: 1317605799

First published in 1984, this biography gives an account of Jonathan Swift’s political ideas and provides a critical commentary on his major works. With its emphasis on Swift as a political writer, the title offers a revision of the prevailing view of Swift’s politics and its application in the study of his works. Alan Downie argues that in terms of the party politics of the day Swift is neither a Whig nor Tory. Swift thought of himself as an ‘Old Whig’, and said he was ‘of the old Whig principles, without the modern articles and refinements’. Downie shows how Swift’s writings consistently make political points about society’s deviation from an ideal. As Swift’s views on morality, religion and politics are so closely linked, an understanding of his political ideas is vital; this reissue provides a detailed analysis of this aspect of Swift’s writings and views, and as such will be of great interest to any students researching his satire.

A Modest Proposal

A Modest Proposal
Author: Jonathan Swift
Publisher: Modernista
Total Pages: 14
Release: 2024-05-30
Genre: Literary Collections
ISBN: 9180949193

In one of the most powerful and darkly satirical works of the 18th century, a chilling solution is proposed to address the dire poverty and overpopulation plaguing Ireland. Jonathan Swift presents a shockingly calculated and seemingly rational argument for using the children of the poor as a food source, thereby addressing both the economic burden on society and the issue of hunger. This provocative piece is a masterful example of irony and social criticism, as it exposes the cruel attitudes and policies of the British ruling class towards the Irish populace. Jonathan Swift's incisive critique not only underscores the absurdity of the proposed solution but also serves as a profound commentary on the exploitation and mistreatment of the oppressed. A Modest Proposal remains a quintessential example of satirical literature, its biting wit and moral indignation as relevant today as it was at the time of its publication. JONATHAN SWIFT [1667-1745] was an Anglo-Irish author, poet, and satirist. His deadpan satire led to the coining of the term »Swiftian«, describing satire of similarly ironic writing style. He is most famous for the novel Gulliver’s Travels [1726] and the essay A Modest Proposal [1729].