Publisher's Synopsis
The Tale of a Tub and Other Works by Jonathan Swift is a collection of satirical writings by the renowned Irish author. The book includes the titular Tale of a Tub, which is a religious satire that mocks the excesses and absurdities of the Catholic and Protestant churches. The other works in the collection include A Discourse Concerning the Mechanical Operation of the Spirit, which is a philosophical treatise on the nature of the soul, and The Battle of the Books, which is a humorous essay that satirizes the literary debates of the time. The book also includes several other short essays and poems that showcase Swift's wit and mastery of satire. Overall, The Tale of a Tub and Other Works is a must-read for fans of Swift's writing and for anyone interested in the history of satire and literature.1922. Famous Irish poet, pamphleteer, satirist and wit of Augustan Age, best remembered for Gulliver�������s Travels. The Tale of a Tub was Swift�������s first major satirical work. Queen Anne deemed it to be blasphemous and it is believed to have adversely affected Swift's chances for ecclesiastical preferment in England. The book comprises three related sketches: the Tale itself, an energetic defense of literature and religion against zealous pedantry; The Battle of the Books, a witty addition to the scholarly debate about the relative merits of ancient versus modern literature and culture; and A Discourse Concerning the Mechanical Operation of the Spirit, a satire of religious fanaticism. Swift explains in the preface that the title comes from sailors tossing a tub overboard to distract a whale that might attack their ship.This scarce antiquarian book is a facsimile reprint of the old original and may contain some imperfections such as library marks and notations. Because we believe this work is culturally important, we have made it available as part of our commitment for protecting, preserving, and promoting the world's literature in affordable, high quality, modern editions, that are true to their original work.