3 Review(s)

The book Jonathan Swift: A Pedagogical Approach tries to analyse the works of Jonathan Swift—an Anglo-Irish satirist, essayist, political pamphleteer, poet and cleric who became the Dean of St. Patrick’s Cathedral, Dublin, Ireland. In describing the works of Swift, the book has followed a pedagogical approach, that is, it has considered the time period when the works were written, prevalent social structure, class, mental growth, literary tradition and world-view or ideology. It analyses the text as a linguistic structure and explains the causes and events—social, political, economic and personal—that inspired or moved Swift to write the text. It has tried to trace the source materials, especially contemporary and past events, myths and famous literary texts; and discusses Swift’s world-view and intention embedded in the text. The language as well as the presentation of the book is good. The book has been divided into six chapters. The first chapter deals with the life and achievements of Swift. The second chapter analyses Swift’s first major work, The Battle of the Books, written when he was thirty years old only. The next chapter is on Swift’s religious writings, such as A Tale of a Tub, A Discourse Concerning the Mechanical Operation of the Spirit, and An Argument Against Abolishing Christianity. The fourth chapter discusses the political endeavor and tracts of Swift. The fifth chapter is on Gulliver’s Travels which ranks top among the most popular tales of the world, such as Panchatantra, Arabian Nights, Sindbad the Sailor, etc. The final chapter deals with the narrative technique and style adopted by Swift in his writings. This book tries to analyse each and every aspect of Swift’s life and his works. The book will be useful for the students of English literature as well as for those students and researchers who have special interests in Jonathan Swift’s life and writings.