Gulliver's Travels by Jonathan Swift - 1882 Edition
For a book more than 130 years old, this book is in remarkably good condition. The binding is slightly loose and shows scuffing and signs of wear. The pages are clean and free of marks, other than a previous owner’s inscription on the front end paper. There are also small rips on the bottom of the front endpaper, however no other pages are affected. While not a first edition, this classic novel is a great and affordable way to start an antiquarian book collection.
First published in 1726, Jonathan Swift’s satirical novel follows the voyages of Lemuel Gulliver, a ship's surgeon. The narrative is structured around four distinct journeys, each revealing the absurdities and follies of human nature and society.
In the first part, Gulliver arrives in Lilliput, a land inhabited by tiny people who stand only six inches tall. He finds himself a giant among them and quickly becomes embroiled in their petty political disputes and their trivial customs, leading to a critique of contemporary politics and the absurdities of war.
The second voyage takes Gulliver to Brobdingnag, a land of giants, where he is diminished to an object of curiosity and ridicule. Here, his perspective shifts, as he realizes the flaws of European society through the eyes of the giant king, who represents a moral and rational viewpoint that highlights the shortcomings of Gulliver’s own culture.
In the third part of his adventures, Gulliver visits the floating island of Laputa and its associated lands, where he encounters intellectuals absorbed in abstract sciences and impractical endeavors. This segment satirizes the Enlightenment’s emphasis on rationality and the disconnect between theory and practical life.
Finally, in the fourth journey, Gulliver reaches the land of the Houyhnhnms, a society of rational horses that embody reason and virtue. In stark contrast, the Yahoos, brutish human-like creatures, represent the basest aspects of humanity. This visit profoundly disillusions Gulliver regarding mankind, as he grapples with his own identity and the moral implications of his experiences.
Throughout his travels, Gulliver’s evolving perceptions of humanity serve as a pointed critique of the follies, vanities, and moral failings of both individuals and societies. "Gulliver's Travels" remains a profound commentary on human nature, power, and the complexities of civilization.
For a book more than 130 years old, this book is in remarkably good condition. The binding is slightly loose and shows scuffing and signs of wear. The pages are clean and free of marks, other than a previous owner’s inscription on the front end paper. There are also small rips on the bottom of the front endpaper, however no other pages are affected. While not a first edition, this classic novel is a great and affordable way to start an antiquarian book collection.
First published in 1726, Jonathan Swift’s satirical novel follows the voyages of Lemuel Gulliver, a ship's surgeon. The narrative is structured around four distinct journeys, each revealing the absurdities and follies of human nature and society.
In the first part, Gulliver arrives in Lilliput, a land inhabited by tiny people who stand only six inches tall. He finds himself a giant among them and quickly becomes embroiled in their petty political disputes and their trivial customs, leading to a critique of contemporary politics and the absurdities of war.
The second voyage takes Gulliver to Brobdingnag, a land of giants, where he is diminished to an object of curiosity and ridicule. Here, his perspective shifts, as he realizes the flaws of European society through the eyes of the giant king, who represents a moral and rational viewpoint that highlights the shortcomings of Gulliver’s own culture.
In the third part of his adventures, Gulliver visits the floating island of Laputa and its associated lands, where he encounters intellectuals absorbed in abstract sciences and impractical endeavors. This segment satirizes the Enlightenment’s emphasis on rationality and the disconnect between theory and practical life.
Finally, in the fourth journey, Gulliver reaches the land of the Houyhnhnms, a society of rational horses that embody reason and virtue. In stark contrast, the Yahoos, brutish human-like creatures, represent the basest aspects of humanity. This visit profoundly disillusions Gulliver regarding mankind, as he grapples with his own identity and the moral implications of his experiences.
Throughout his travels, Gulliver’s evolving perceptions of humanity serve as a pointed critique of the follies, vanities, and moral failings of both individuals and societies. "Gulliver's Travels" remains a profound commentary on human nature, power, and the complexities of civilization.
For a book more than 130 years old, this book is in remarkably good condition. The binding is slightly loose and shows scuffing and signs of wear. The pages are clean and free of marks, other than a previous owner’s inscription on the front end paper. There are also small rips on the bottom of the front endpaper, however no other pages are affected. While not a first edition, this classic novel is a great and affordable way to start an antiquarian book collection.
First published in 1726, Jonathan Swift’s satirical novel follows the voyages of Lemuel Gulliver, a ship's surgeon. The narrative is structured around four distinct journeys, each revealing the absurdities and follies of human nature and society.
In the first part, Gulliver arrives in Lilliput, a land inhabited by tiny people who stand only six inches tall. He finds himself a giant among them and quickly becomes embroiled in their petty political disputes and their trivial customs, leading to a critique of contemporary politics and the absurdities of war.
The second voyage takes Gulliver to Brobdingnag, a land of giants, where he is diminished to an object of curiosity and ridicule. Here, his perspective shifts, as he realizes the flaws of European society through the eyes of the giant king, who represents a moral and rational viewpoint that highlights the shortcomings of Gulliver’s own culture.
In the third part of his adventures, Gulliver visits the floating island of Laputa and its associated lands, where he encounters intellectuals absorbed in abstract sciences and impractical endeavors. This segment satirizes the Enlightenment’s emphasis on rationality and the disconnect between theory and practical life.
Finally, in the fourth journey, Gulliver reaches the land of the Houyhnhnms, a society of rational horses that embody reason and virtue. In stark contrast, the Yahoos, brutish human-like creatures, represent the basest aspects of humanity. This visit profoundly disillusions Gulliver regarding mankind, as he grapples with his own identity and the moral implications of his experiences.
Throughout his travels, Gulliver’s evolving perceptions of humanity serve as a pointed critique of the follies, vanities, and moral failings of both individuals and societies. "Gulliver's Travels" remains a profound commentary on human nature, power, and the complexities of civilization.