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
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Page 9
... thing he abhorred, but by the description he thought himself to be the person aimed at; and at the same time he very kindly offered his own assistance gratis towards penning a dedication to himself. I desired him, however, to give a ...
... thing he abhorred, but by the description he thought himself to be the person aimed at; and at the same time he very kindly offered his own assistance gratis towards penning a dedication to himself. I desired him, however, to give a ...
Page 17
... things? It is certain that in their own nature they were light enough to swim upon the surface for all eternity; therefore, the fault is in him who tied weights so heavy to their heels as to depress them to the centre. Is their very ...
... things? It is certain that in their own nature they were light enough to swim upon the surface for all eternity; therefore, the fault is in him who tied weights so heavy to their heels as to depress them to the centre. Is their very ...
Page 27
... things are extremely witty to-day, or fasting, or in this place, or at eight o'clock, or over a bottle, or spoke by Mr. Whatdyecall'm, or in a summer's morning, any of which, by the smallest transposal or misapplication, is utterly ...
... things are extremely witty to-day, or fasting, or in this place, or at eight o'clock, or over a bottle, or spoke by Mr. Whatdyecall'm, or in a summer's morning, any of which, by the smallest transposal or misapplication, is utterly ...
Page 34
... thing, and has been always the same, whereas diseases are by thousands, besides new and daily additions, so all the virtues that have been ever in mankind are to be counted upon a few fingers, but his follies and vices are innumerable ...
... thing, and has been always the same, whereas diseases are by thousands, besides new and daily additions, so all the virtues that have been ever in mankind are to be counted upon a few fingers, but his follies and vices are innumerable ...
Page 36
... things so far as to drop but a single hint in public how such a one starved half the fleet, and half poisoned the rest; how such a one, from a true principle of love and honour, pays no debts but for wenches and play; how such a one ...
... things so far as to drop but a single hint in public how such a one starved half the fleet, and half poisoned the rest; how such a one, from a true principle of love and honour, pays no debts but for wenches and play; how such a one ...
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
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