About
Jonathan Swift, born in Dublin to English parents, is regarded as the foremost prose satirist in the English language. Ordained as an Anglican priest, he became Dean of St Patrick's Cathedral, Dublin. He published most of his works under pseudonyms, including Lemuel Gulliver. His writings, marked by biting irony, criticize religious corruption, human follies, and English policy toward Ireland. His style gave rise to the term 'Swiftian'.
* 1667-11-28 — † 1745-10-19
Major works
- A Tale of a Tub (1704)prose satire
- Gulliver's Travels (1726)satire
- A Modest Proposal (1729)pamphlet
- Drapier's Letters (1724)pamphlets
- Journal to Stella (1710)letters
Key milestones
- 1695Ordained as an Anglican priest in the Church of Ireland.
- 1713Appointed Dean of St Patrick's Cathedral, Dublin.
- 1724Publication of Drapier's Letters, making him a national hero in Ireland.
Themes
Political satireCritique of human natureIrony and dark humorReligion and corruptionColonialism and poverty
Sources: oxforddnb.com · britannica.com · archives.trin.cam.ac.uk
