Since the first secret publication, in 1740, of part of his correspondence with Alexander Pope, Jonathan Swift's letters have become a standard source for his biographers and critics. Craig Ulman argues that the letters are not entirely reliable for biographical fact and have often been taken too literally. In this readable essay, Ulman surveys the satiric material in Swift's correspondence, highlighting his wit. The author views Swift's epistolary writing as very much a literary endeavor. He examines the pose and the persona and discusses the satiric methods the letters share with Swift's other published works.

Provides a comprehensive alphabetical reference to the life and work of Jonathan Swift.

First published in 1984, this biography gives an account of Jonathan Swift’s political ideas and provides a critical commentary on his major works. With its emphasis on Swift as a political writer, the title offers a revision of the prevailing view of Swift’s politics and its application in the study of his works. Alan Downie argues that in terms of the party politics of the day Swift is neither a Whig nor Tory. Swift thought of himself as an ‘Old Whig’, and said he was ‘of the old Whig principles, without the modern articles and refinements’. Downie shows how Swift’s writings consistently make political points about society’s deviation from an ideal. As Swift’s views on morality, religion and politics are so closely linked, an understanding of his political ideas is vital; this reissue provides a detailed analysis of this aspect of Swift’s writings and views, and as such will be of great interest to any students researching his satire.