“I cannot but conclude the bulk of your natives to be the most pernicious race of little odious vermin that nature ever suffered to crawl upon the surface of the earth.”
— Jonathan Swift
Why It's Lindy
Published in 1726 and still read accurately — each voyage finds its analogue in every century. Swift's misanthropy has aged better than most optimism.
About This Volume
Lemuel Gulliver's four voyages — to the land of tiny people, the land of giants, the island of philosophers, and the land of rational horses — form the most devastating satirical structure in English literature. What appears to be an adventure story is, on closer reading, a systematic assault on human pride, political corruption, and the self-congratulation of European civilization.
Frequently Asked
Why should I read Gulliver's Travels?
Published in 1726 and still read accurately — each voyage finds its analogue in every century. Swift's misanthropy has aged better than most optimism.
What is Gulliver's Travels about?
Lemuel Gulliver's four voyages — to the land of tiny people, the land of giants, the island of philosophers, and the land of rational horses — form the most devastating satirical structure in English literature. What appears to be an adventure story is, on closer reading, a systematic assault on human pride, political corruption, and the self-congratulation of European civilization.
