Description
“Gulliver’s Travels” is a satirical novel written by the Irish author Jonathan Swift. The full title of the work is “Travels into Several Remote Nations of the World, in Four Parts, by Lemuel Gulliver, First a Surgeon, and then a Captain of Several Ships.” The novel was first published in 1726 anonymously, and Swift’s authorship was not widely known initially.
The novel tells the story of Lemuel Gulliver, a ship’s surgeon and later a ship captain, who embarks on four voyages to fantastical lands. Each part of the novel corresponds to a different voyage, and in each, Gulliver encounters strange and exaggerated civilizations that serve as a vehicle for Swift’s satirical commentary on various aspects of human nature, society, and politics.
The four parts of “Gulliver’s Travels” are as follows:
1. **Lilliput:** Gulliver finds himself in a land inhabited by tiny people, the Lilliputians, where he becomes a giant among them.
2. **Brobdingnag:** In contrast to Lilliput, Gulliver arrives in a land of giants, the Brobdingnagians, where he is the tiny one. This part satirizes the flaws and vices of human nature when seen through a different perspective.
3. **Laputa, Balnibarbi, Luggnagg, Glubbdubdrib, and Japan:** Gulliver visits several strange lands, each with its own peculiarities, including a flying island (Laputa) and a land where the immortals live (Luggnagg).
4. **The Country of the Houyhnhnms:** Gulliver’s final voyage takes him to a land governed by intelligent and rational horses called Houyhnhnms, contrasting with the savage and brutish Yahoos, who resemble humans. This part is a harsh satire on human nature and society.
“Gulliver’s Travels” is renowned for its wit, satire, and critique of human folly. Swift uses the fantastic settings and characters to satirize various aspects of 18th-century European society, including politics, science, religion, and human nature itself. The novel’s enduring popularity lies in its multifaceted layers of social and political commentary, as well as its imaginative and entertaining narrative.
Lalita Rana (Verified Purchase)
Loved this book. I have been collecting hardcover books from Great Writers Library because of lovely covers. The font size is also a factor. Its large enough to read comfortably.