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A MODEST PROPOSAL (non illustrated)
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Product Description
The political dilemma of Ireland; the state of faith in England; the charms of the Beggar's Opera; the importance of puns . . . This selection gathers together some of Swift's most brilliant prose, from high politics to social gossip, from savage tirades to lighthearted social satire. In addition to his classic essays, the collection includes several of Swift's letters to Alexander Pope and other great thinkers of the age.
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Most Helpful Customer Reviews
3 of 3 people found the following review helpful
Format:Paperback
Carole Fabricant has edited this and supplied a detailed introduction. Virtually everyone must have read Gulliver's Travels or know the story, and many of us have also read A Tale of A Tub. Ms Fabricant has eschewed these to give us a selection of his other works, some of them not published in collections before. So here we have letters, as well as essays along with other works.
Jonathan Swift is one of the greatest satirists ever to have lived, if not the best, and here we have a great selection. From the opening piece on why mankind resembles brooms, to eating the poor children of Ireland Swift stretches his imagination and brain. Looking at religion, politics and economy amongst other things he is always intelligent as well as witty. He looks at puns as well and gives us excellent satire, parody and word play.
Although Swift was looking at and writing about what was happening in his age you don't necessarily have to be well versed in the history of the time, although a little understanding, especially as regards Ireland is of help. Because mankind will never change, we all have the same thoughts and emotions, we all see stupidity and injustice around us Swift is still relevant to us in this day and age, and lets be honest always will be, thus making his writings immortal.
Jonathan Swift is one of the greatest satirists ever to have lived, if not the best, and here we have a great selection. From the opening piece on why mankind resembles brooms, to eating the poor children of Ireland Swift stretches his imagination and brain. Looking at religion, politics and economy amongst other things he is always intelligent as well as witty. He looks at puns as well and gives us excellent satire, parody and word play.
Although Swift was looking at and writing about what was happening in his age you don't necessarily have to be well versed in the history of the time, although a little understanding, especially as regards Ireland is of help. Because mankind will never change, we all have the same thoughts and emotions, we all see stupidity and injustice around us Swift is still relevant to us in this day and age, and lets be honest always will be, thus making his writings immortal.
0 of 2 people found the following review helpful
Format:Kindle Edition
This is an example of where kindle does not work and is a rip off. This good edition is supplied without a contents page or chapters so there is no way of finding any of the individual sections except endlessly flipping through, and YET IT is very expensive - no cheaper than the print copy that contains index, contents and all usual functions of a paper book. Kindle is brilliant where the content is designed for this reading device but a disaster for classic books or works not designed for kindle. I want my money back.
Most Helpful Customer Reviews on Amazon.com (beta)
Amazon.com:
12 reviews
16 of 17 people found the following review helpful
Sharp Political Satire
31 Dec 2009
Format:Kindle Edition|Amazon Verified Purchase
Short and to the point, this is political satire at its best. While some background of Irish history is helpful, what I most like about Mr. Swift's arguments is that they can apply to any society where the group in power frets over what to do with the poor. I was in the middle of a book on the history of the Civil Rights movement in the American South when I read this, and what struck me was how Swift's satire lined up with the events a continent and centuries away from the original subject.
14 of 18 people found the following review helpful
English Satire at it's Finest
29 May 2008
Format:Paperback
So I have not bought this copy, but I have a few different copies of A Modest Proposal and it is amazing.
Jonathan Swift is really the father of english satire in literature and, along with Gulliver's Travels, this is his magnum opus.
The basic idea is a proposal for economic reform by the export and eating of babies. Now the idea is rather gruesome, but Swift is not meant to be taken literally. The idea was so show how ridiculous people were being, fighting over religion and economics, by showing an idea that, truly could have worked for the time and place if people were okay with child murder. This is nothing short of one of the most hilarious arguments into the problems with governments and economic reform that was ever written.
I highly recommend this short piece for both humor, literature, and a look into the human social mind.
Jonathan Swift is really the father of english satire in literature and, along with Gulliver's Travels, this is his magnum opus.
The basic idea is a proposal for economic reform by the export and eating of babies. Now the idea is rather gruesome, but Swift is not meant to be taken literally. The idea was so show how ridiculous people were being, fighting over religion and economics, by showing an idea that, truly could have worked for the time and place if people were okay with child murder. This is nothing short of one of the most hilarious arguments into the problems with governments and economic reform that was ever written.
I highly recommend this short piece for both humor, literature, and a look into the human social mind.
2 of 3 people found the following review helpful
LOVE IT!
19 Jan 2011
Format:Kindle Edition|Amazon Verified Purchase
I love this book! It's one of my favorites! However, if you're not used to the vocabulary in it, or your understanding of the turmoil that was going on in this period of history is weak, you might not get the full effect or humor. It's still a worth-while read. Go for it!
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