A Tale of a TubThe Floating Press, 2009 M12 1 - 220 pages Jump into Jonathan Swift's take-no-prisoners parody of seventeenth-century Christianity. Equal parts uproarious humor and incisive satire, A Tale of a Tub dissects the foibles and shortcomings of three brothers, each of whom represents a different branch of the Christian religion. Swift, himself a clergyman, sealed his reputation as one of England's most ruthless -- and notorious -- satirists with the book's publication. It's a thought-provoking and rollicking read whether you're a believer or a dyed-in-the-wool skeptic. |
From inside the book
Results 1-5 of 16
Page 17
... affirm, and command him to show you some of our productions. To which he will answer—for I am well informed of his designs—by asking your Highness where they are, and what is become of them? and pretend it a demonstration that there ...
... affirm, and command him to show you some of our productions. To which he will answer—for I am well informed of his designs—by asking your Highness where they are, and what is become of them? and pretend it a demonstration that there ...
Page 19
... affirm that our age is altogether unleamed and devoid of writers in any kind, seems to be an assertion so bold and so false, that I have been sometimes thinking the contrary may almost be proved by uncontrollable demonstration. It is ...
... affirm that our age is altogether unleamed and devoid of writers in any kind, seems to be an assertion so bold and so false, that I have been sometimes thinking the contrary may almost be proved by uncontrollable demonstration. It is ...
Page 20
... affirm to your Highness that there is a large cloud near the horizon in the form of a bear, another in the zenith with the head of an ass, a third to the westward with claws like a dragon; and your Highness should in a few minutes think ...
... affirm to your Highness that there is a large cloud near the horizon in the form of a bear, another in the zenith with the head of an ass, a third to the westward with claws like a dragon; and your Highness should in a few minutes think ...
Page 21
... affirm, upon the word of a sincere man, that there is now actually in being a certain poet called John Dryden, whose translation of Virgil was lately printed in large folio, well bound, and if diligent search were made, for aught I know ...
... affirm, upon the word of a sincere man, that there is now actually in being a certain poet called John Dryden, whose translation of Virgil was lately printed in large folio, well bound, and if diligent search were made, for aught I know ...
Page 28
... (for a reason best known to myself) I thought fit to sharpen my invention with hunger, and in general the whole work was begun, continued, and ended under a long course of physic and a great want of money. Now, I do affirm it will 28.
... (for a reason best known to myself) I thought fit to sharpen my invention with hunger, and in general the whole work was begun, continued, and ended under a long course of physic and a great want of money. Now, I do affirm it will 28.
Contents
5 | |
7 | |
13 | |
15 | |
24 | |
39 | |
Section II | 56 |
Section III A Digression Concerning Critics | 72 |
Section VIII A Tale of a Tub | 129 |
Section IX A Digression Concerning the Original the Use and Improvement of Madness in a Commonwealth | 139 |
Section X A Farther Digression | 158 |
Section XI A Tale of a Tub | 166 |
The Conclusion | 184 |
The History of Martin | 190 |
A Digression on the Nature Usefulness and Necessity of Wars and Quarrels | 197 |
The History of Martin Continued | 200 |
Section IV A Tale of a Tub | 86 |
Section V A Digression in the Modern Kind | 102 |
Section VI A Tale of a Tub | 111 |
Section VII A Digression in Praise of Digressions | 121 |
A Project for the Universal Benefit of Mankind | 203 |
Endnotes | 207 |
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Common terms and phrases
adventures AEolists affirm allowed ancient body bookseller brain brethren brother called chiefly Church Church of England coats common commonwealth of learning consider Ctesias curious deduced Digression discourse ears embroidery endeavours Epicurus especially extremely eyes famous fashion father's fly furnish further give gold lace Gresham College hand hath head Herodotus Highness honour human imagination influence invention Jack Jack's justly landlord learned Lord Peter Lordship Lucretius madness mankind Martin matter means method modems modern nature never noble nose observed occasion original panegyric Paracelsus Pausanias perpetual person perusal philosophers piece preface present pretended proceed proceeding produce profound reason refined reflecting resolved Scythian sometimes spleen talent Terra Australis incognita things thought treatise true critic turn universal vapour Westminster Hall wherein whereof whoever whole wholly wind wonderful word writers