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 31
Page 7
... observe, not at all regarded or thought on by any of our present writers; and I being wholly free from that slavery which booksellers usually lie under to the caprices of authors, I think it a wise piece of presumption to inscribe these ...
... observe, not at all regarded or thought on by any of our present writers; and I being wholly free from that slavery which booksellers usually lie under to the caprices of authors, I think it a wise piece of presumption to inscribe these ...
Page 8
... observed written in large letters the two following words, DETUR DIGNISSIMO, which, for aught I knew, might contain some important meaning. But it unluckily fell out that none of the Authors I employ understood Latin (though I have them ...
... observed written in large letters the two following words, DETUR DIGNISSIMO, which, for aught I knew, might contain some important meaning. But it unluckily fell out that none of the Authors I employ understood Latin (though I have them ...
Page 17
... observe that large and terrible scythe which your governor affects to bear continually about him. Be pleased to remark the length and strength, the sharpness and hardness, of his nails and teeth; consider his baneful, abominable breath ...
... observe that large and terrible scythe which your governor affects to bear continually about him. Be pleased to remark the length and strength, the sharpness and hardness, of his nails and teeth; consider his baneful, abominable breath ...
Page 27
... observe many such egregious touches, which I shall not injure the authors by transplanting, because I have remarked that nothing is so very tender as a modern piece of wit, and which is apt to suffer so much in the carriage. Some things ...
... observe many such egregious touches, which I shall not injure the authors by transplanting, because I have remarked that nothing is so very tender as a modern piece of wit, and which is apt to suffer so much in the carriage. Some things ...
Page 29
... not lessen the number of scribblers who daily pester," &c. Another: "When every little would-be wit takes pen in hand, 'tis in vain to enter the lists," &c. Another: "To observe what trash the press swarms with," &c. 29.
... not lessen the number of scribblers who daily pester," &c. Another: "When every little would-be wit takes pen in hand, 'tis in vain to enter the lists," &c. Another: "To observe what trash the press swarms with," &c. 29.
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