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Gulliver's Travels and ''A Modest Proposal''

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Enduring Literature Illuminated by Practical Scholarship

By turns a children's fantasy and a social satire for adults, Gulliver's Travels is one of the most popular adventure tales of all time. "A Modest Proposal," also an imaginative, enduring work, is political lampoonery at its finest.

This Enriched Classic Edition includes:

• A concise introduction that gives readers important background information

• A chronology of the author's life and work

• A timeline of significant events that provides the book's historical context

• An outline of key themes and plot points to help readers form their own interpretations

• Detailed explanatory notes

• Critical analysis, including contemporary and modern perspectives on the work

• Discussion questions to promote lively classroom and book group interaction

• A list of recommended related books and films to broaden the reader's experience

Enriched Classics offer readers affordable editions of great works of literature enhanced by helpful notes and insightful commentary. The scholarship provided in Enriched Classics enables readers to appreciate, understand, and enjoy the world's finest books to their full potential.

Series edited by Cynthia Brantley Johnson

416 pages, Mass Market Paperback

First published July 26, 2005

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About the author

Jonathan Swift

4,787 books2,087 followers
Jonathan 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".

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5 stars
1,996 (34%)
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 71 reviews
Profile Image for Katie.
76 reviews7 followers
December 12, 2018
Swift is a fan-freaking-tastic satirical writer. A Modest Proposal was hilarious, so long as you understand it is indeed a satire. Gulliver's Travels is also satirical, and I found it fun tying the satire back to what was going on in politics when Swift wrote this. Even if you don't understand how the piece is satirical, you can still gather the themes and lessons throughout. Worth a read for sure!
Profile Image for Jen.
150 reviews8 followers
January 28, 2019
Just couldn't get into it
29 reviews
January 1, 2009
I really had to read this about three times to get the whole political underscore and social commentary. When you're 8 years old, it just seems like a fun fairytale, but reading it multiple times in high school and college, it struck different chords each time. It's actually a pretty smart critique on life dressed up in an interesting bunch of journeys to different lands.

A Modest Proposal, was hilarious, in my opinion. Reading it once as-is and then again keeping in mind the satirical nature of the piece was pretty amusing. Who says old English literature has to be boring?
Profile Image for Thomas.
288 reviews4 followers
February 6, 2008
Two masterpieces that had me believing I could become a satirist in no time. Many newspapers had to endure my letters of which none were printed. (But I can't put the blame on Swift for making it look so easy.)
Profile Image for Ali.
11 reviews5 followers
November 25, 2015
در یوم بیست و پنش شهر نوامبر سنهٔ دو هزار و پانزده، قرائتیده شد، ریویو تا ساعاتی بلکم هم ایامی دگر
و من اللح طوفیغ
485 reviews
May 17, 2023
I knew Jonathan Swift is famous for his satire. I remember reading an essay of his suggesting that the people of England eat their children to decrease the population. Gulliver's Travels was even stranger. We've all heard about Lilliput, but there were other countries equally odd that he visits in this book. This novel was as tedious as tedious can be. That's why it took me forever to finish it. I love classics, but this isn't one I would even recommend let alone keep. I will say his stay with the intelligent horses and his commentary were spot on. Humans can be foolish and behave irrationally, but there is still a lot of good in everyone. I did like his comments on the excesses of government which even in this century we see a lot of.
Profile Image for Phoebe.
2 reviews
October 11, 2022
I truly tried to enjoy this book numerous times and each reading brought more pain and suffering to my brain. The main character is easy to dislike, his attitude towards the people and things he encounters only cements his feelings of superiority- even when proven that he isn’t as grand as he originally thought.

I understand the sarcastic messages, but they come off as pompous rather than humorous… I strongly disliked this book. I had to fight with myself to finish it, and that has never happened to me before. 2 stars instead of 1 star because it seems cruel to score that low based off my personal preference for writing styles.
3 reviews
April 4, 2023
The novel belonging to Augustan age (18th century) is a masterpiece of Menippean satire. The novel is written in simple words and in commons form but the the hidden ironic writing style is wroth appreciation. Travel adventures of Lemuel Gulliver is worth reading once,
Profile Image for Satu.
547 reviews5 followers
May 18, 2023
I'm not a friend of satires. Meh. I thought that I had read it before. Most of the book I thought I hadn't, but the last section was familiar. It's a classic and I can see why, but I wasn't into it.

A Modest Proposal was hilarious, if you can keep in mind that it's a satire.
Profile Image for Benja.
384 reviews7 followers
August 16, 2024
Entretenida obra archiconocida en donde nos relata las distintas islas que conoció Gulliver en su famosos viajes.

Primero nos relata sus aventuras en la isla de los liliputienses, pequeños personajes de unos 15 centímetros de altura estimo, que creo que no es necesario recordar.

Después llegará a la isla de los gigantes, llamados si no recuerdo mal brobdingnagianos, en donde fue rescatado por una familia labradora y la hija de esta familia lo llevará a la ciudad en donde será presentado a los reyes, siendo la Reina su especial protectora.

Seguidamente conocerá la isla de Laputa. Una isla que flota en el aire. Aquí nos cuenta cómo viven su habitantes y nos relata también a otros habilitantes de otras islas con las que los de Laputa tienen relación y vasallaje.

Por último nos narra sus aventuras en la isla de los caballos, llamados houyhnhnms. Animales inteligentes que hablan entre ellos. Gulliver consigue aprender su idioma y se queda prendado con la forma de ver el mundo de los caballos, hasta tal punto que no desea irse de la isla, aunque al final, por distintas circunstacias tiene que partir. En esta isla los caballos tienen animales de servidumbre que son exactamente iguales a los humanos, pero llenos de pelo y con garras en las manos y pies. Son seres salvajes y agresivos, llamados yahoo (al parecer se baraja la posibilidad de que el buscador yahoo se inspirara al tomar su nombre en estos personajes). Estos yahoo son usados como sirvientes pues no son más que bestias que no tienen entendimiento. De hecho Gulliver es tomado siempre como un yahoo pero con cierto grado de raciocinio y con capacidad para aprender el idioma de los caballos.

La obra se lee muy bien y es muy entretenida. Me ha llamado la atención las páginas finales en la que nos dice que los yahoo de Europa "...desembarcan para robar y saquear; encuentran un pueblo sencillo, que los recibe con amabilidad; toman de él formal posesión en nombre de su rey;... asesinan a dos o tres docenas de indígenas; se llevan por la fuerza una pareja como muestra... se envían barcos a la primera oportunidad; se expulsan o se destruyen a los naturales; se tortura a sus príncipes para obligarlos a declarar dónde tienen su oro; se concede plena autorización para todo acto de inhumanidad y lascivia... Y esta execrable cuadrilla de carniceros, empleada en esta piadosa expedición, es una colonia moderna, enviada para convertir y civilizar a un pueblo idólatra y bárbaro." Los párrafos están copiados literal del libro. Lo primero que una piensa es que es una clara referencia a los españoles, ya que la leyenda negra nos ha presentado como esos seres sanguinarios. Pero por otro lado, al no hacer referencia a ninguna nación en concreto, puedes pensar que se refiere al hombre europeo en general o incluso a una crítica a Inglaterra. Pero luego viene la confirmación de que efectivamente, se refiere a España de forma sibilina, pues nos dice en otros párrafos posteriores y absolutamente memorables, lo siguiente:

"Pero reconozco que esta descripción en ningún modo se refiere a la nación británica, que puede servir de ejemplo a todo el mundo por su sabiduría, cuidado y justicia en establecer colonias; sus liberales consignaciones para el progreso de la religión y la cultura; su elección de pastores devotos y capaces para propagar el cristianismo; su precaución de poblar las provincias con gentes de vida y conservación moderadas, enviada de la madre patria; su riguroso celo en la administración de justicia, designación para el ministerio civil, en todas y cada parte de sus colonias, funcionarios de la mayor competencia, totalmente inaccesibles a la corrupción, y, por coronarlo todo, su tino para enviar a los más vigilantes y virtuosos gobernadores, que no tienen más aspiración que la felicidad de los pueblos que dirigen y el honor del rey su señor."

Cuando leí esto me quedé que no supe si echarme a reir o a llorar. Me pareció tan brutal que no sabía si era en serio o era una hipérbole irónica sobre Inglaterra. Y aún hoy sigo sin estar seguro de que no sea una crítica sarcástica de los británicos, porque si no fuera así me parece que no tiene nombre lo que escribe este hombre sobre los británicos. Pero es posible que sea así. Ya dije arriba que la leyenda negra, que los españoles nos empeñamos en creer, ha sido un ejercicio de propaganda espectacular y que ha conseguido humillar a España hasta la fecha de hoy.

No quero dejar de recordar que cuando Gulliver describe a los caballos cómo son algunas cosas de su nación, llega a explicar cómo son los abogados. Y la verdad es que los pone de vuelta y media. Gente que solo mira para ellos, que no le interesa la justicia ni el bien ni el mal, que desde niños aprenden las leyes y su especial vocabulario cuyo único objetivo es desviar la atención de la verdad para conseguir que la falsedad triunfe con el objeto de llenarse los bolsillos. Y una cantidad más de epítetos que no favorecen en nada a los abogados. Me acordé de Paula y me imagino que no le haría mucha gracia esta descripción, aunque a mi me resultó simpática.

en fin, pero fuera de esta anécdota, la obra se lee muy bien y es muy entretenida. Todo un clásico.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
Profile Image for Amy.
41 reviews12 followers
December 18, 2017
This book is SO much more than Lilliput. I'm glad I read the entire book, rather than relying on Disney's version.
Profile Image for C..
136 reviews5 followers
September 13, 2021
you are not the funnyman that you think yourself to be sir. the only thing you succeeded in was just irating me from beyond the grave.
30 reviews1 follower
October 14, 2021
Make sure you want to spend a while figuring things out before you open this book, elizabethan language a bit tedious.
16 reviews
October 26, 2022
One of the strangest stories I have ever come across. I wouldn't really recommend it unless you like very weird satire, and horses...
9 reviews
May 24, 2023
One of the best novels of all time.
342 reviews8 followers
March 30, 2025
Read for professor lobell’s restoration and 18th century lit class
Profile Image for Lauren Price.
216 reviews1 follower
October 15, 2020
Swift was a wonderful satyrical writer. A Modest Proposal is my favorite essay of all time and pairing it with G. T. Was really smart as I think you get a better picture of Swifts philosophy by reading both. G. T. is one of those wonderful novels that can be read simply for the enjoyment of the story but also has a rich background of social commentary.
Profile Image for Oscar.
36 reviews15 followers
March 12, 2017
Jonathan Swift, a través de Los viajes de Gulliver, nos presenta una visión muy negativa de la humanidad. Escrita a la manera de los libros de viaje de la época (Swift aquí también satiriza su monótono estilo), la novela nos es presentada como la relación que escribe el marinero inglés Lemuel Gulliver de sus viajes a varios países fantásticos(Lilliput, Brobdignag, Balnibardi, Luggnagg, Glubbdubdrib, Japón, Laputa y el país de los Houyhnhnms).

Estos países, y su disimilitud con Europa, son para Gulliver el pretexto perfecto para comparar los usos de su país con los que encuentra en sus heterodoxos viajes. Uno de las consecuencias de este tipo de narración es que el lector no puede evitar analizar su propia idiosincrasia a la luz de las descritas en los capítulos del libro. Éste es un ejercicio sumamente interesante ya que pone en entredicho la validez de nuestras instituciones, costumbres, y yendo un poco más allá, incluso nuestro sentido común.

Swift exhibe una visión muy aguda y un análisis muy claro de los defectos de nuestra civilización. En lo personal, la distopía que más me resultó interesante, fue la de la isla flotante Laputa. Se trata de un país cuyos habitantes solo valoran el conocimiento abstracto y desprecian el valor práctico de las cosas y conocimientos. Estos seres desconocen a tal grado la fantasía y la imaginación que en su lengua no hay palabra para designarlas y sus vidas están plagadas de minuciosas discusiones sobre la actualidad política y preocupaciones sobre los que puede salir mal en el futuro.
Profile Image for Manda.
115 reviews
July 16, 2009
Eh...I picked up Gulliver's Travels because I brought back from Christmas holiday (my parents' home and residence for many of my books) with the intention of diving right into it in January. Obviously, the intention has gone stale as it is now July.

Gulliver's travels reminds me of Twain's Innocents Abroad. Both are travel narratives and not really "novels" in the traditional sense--if at all. Swift and Twain's works are also united by their satirical intentions, though I must admit that much of the satire laced throughout Gulliver's Travels was lost on me. And it also sort of reminded me of "The Odyssey" by Homer--I don't know if this is a comparison most would agree with--but the way each of Gulliver's journeys evolves reminds me of "The Odyssey" where Odysseus is faced with certain tasks in an effort to prevent his return home.

"Gulliver's Travels" is divided into four parts; each part details a separate journey from Gulliver.

I believe this book has merit, but was bored at some parts--and without a study guide--fear that much of the book's original intention/effects was lost on me.
213 reviews
July 15, 2009
Gulliver's Travels is purported to be a classic and a children's tale. I read this to find out about both and to remove the Disney version from my head. Gulliver travels to Lilliput (The small), Brobdingnag (giants), Laputa (thinkers) and Houyhnhnm (horses). The small and large are contrasted to show that might makes the rules. The thinkers are characterized an nonsensical, useless, layabout tyrants and the horse society with its attendant Yahoos (feral humans) as the ideal. The ideal which has no crime, want disease or love seems kind of boring.

The writing is arachaic, profane, funny and tedious.

A Modest Proposal in the darkest humor advocates the eating of Irish children by English lords and ladies. It would relieve the overpopulation of Ireland and play to the strength of the Irish - procreation. Swift acknowledges the slight initial distaste of eating children, but he suggests several methods of preparation and repitition to overcome the qualms of the sqeamish.

A Modest Proposal is the better work. Vicious, dark humor comes along but a few times.
Profile Image for Keri.
234 reviews
February 16, 2011
I thought this, being a classic, would be better. It was exciting at first to read about his experiences in a strange land, but after awhile, all I could think was, "Geez guy, just stay home with your wife and kids. Every time you leave on a ship you inevitably are shipwrecked or thrown overboard or mutineered. LEARN YOUR LESSON!" But he doesn't. Maybe it's just that the stack of books on my nightstand seem WAY more interesting that Gulliver's Travels. But it wasn't engaging for me. :( Sadly, I think the Jack Black movie might be more engaging. I do love Jack Black though. Vive Nacho!!

One more thing - I did think the last part of the novel was somewhat redeeming. When our narrator is with the Houyhnhms (the horses) the does a fantastic job explaining humans and their nature. I did like that part.
Profile Image for Mishqueen.
343 reviews40 followers
October 25, 2007
Swift had a political agenda when he wrote Gulliver's Travels, and I find it fascinating how he could weave a plot around his opinions, to create an analogy that anyone can understand (and find humor in). As a result, he created not just an avenue for his social opinions, but a new literary culture (ie - the original source for our term "yahoo").

If you have never read "A Modest Proposal" I highly recommend it. Swift mocks some of his contemporaries and their methods for solving social problems, by proposing a typically rejected method for population control. Although he is not serious in his recommendation, it does bring to light the faulty foundations of the opinions of those whom he is criticizing in the essay.
Profile Image for Kathy Manus.
350 reviews4 followers
February 9, 2011
I really like the Voyage to Lilliput, but after that Swift's sense of humor grows old. This is the second time I have taught this and I enjoyed teaching it more the second time around. Unfortunately, like most teachers, I have run out of time and didn't get to cover the novel in depth the way I would have liked. I do think the students appreciated the satire, although I'm not sure they entirely understood all of the references, I did make a good effort to explain them. I will be teaching it again, next year and hope that every year I teach it, both the students and I get more and more out of it.
Profile Image for Theophilus (Theo).
290 reviews24 followers
March 4, 2011
This wasn't the edition I read as a teenager, but it has my two favorite Swift pieces. The original Gulliver's Travels is nothing like the animated feature film or the later movie versions. I remember it as being quite 'naughty' when I first read it. "A Modest Proposal" is hilarious. For amture teens (as I was) and adults, an enjoyable adventure story and perhaps, in another dimension or some dystopian society, a solution to hunger. Don't know what i am talking about. Beat it to your local library or used boko store. Look for the Great Books of the Western World series (that's the one I read).
Displaying 1 - 30 of 71 reviews

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