Gulliver's Travels

Gulliver's Travels is such a great classic that it is difficult to write any sort of regular review. So instead I have compiled a list of observations. Isaac Asimov, the distinguished writer, scientist, and Sci-fi buff, speculates that the made-up languages in Gulliver's Travels are basically nonsense; then he turns around and speculates that Lilliput is a corruption of "little bit". Good guess! - but maybe it's "little part" or "little pint"? Asimov also gives a other cases where highly plausible decipherments can be made. Interestingly, Swift's made-up languages often have a definite Italian ring. Swift himself says so much when commenting on the language of Laputa. Did Swift have a particularly admiration for Italian? Did he study it? It is usually assumed that most events and characters in Gulliver are veiled satires on England, and its misrule of Ireland. Perhaps. But maybe Swift was also poking fun at the Italian states. The "good old days" for which Swift pined may then be those of the Roman empire. It is often claimed that the fourth book is the best, and the third book the weakest. I disagree! Possibly from a purely stylistic standpoint the fourth book, on the horse-people, IS the best. But this is not enough to make it the most interesting. The Houyhnhnms represent Swift's idea of purely rational, benign beings. They don't lie, and have virtually no crime. But frankly, they are boring! They appear to have neither dreams nor aspirations, and little imagination. They spend much of their time in busy-work - apparently so as to stay out of trouble, in the manner of certain monastic orders. Perhaps the real trouble is that humans have a limited capacity for imagining perfect goodness. Look at the divine comedy triptych painted by Bosch. Which is the most interesting panel? The one on heaven? I don't think so! The third book (the one about the flying island of Laputa) contains a wealth of ideas - even if hastily written. Asimov points out that, unlike the other books, in the third book Swift takes considerable pains to explain "the marvelous" in scientific terms -- at least to the extent such explanations are possible. This is a hallmark of science fiction, as opposed to fantasy. A strong case can be made for Swift as the first true sci-fi writer. Consider, for example, his amazingly prophetic description of the two moons of Mars. Here is another example of Swifts amazing prescience. It is from Laputa, and illustrates the major concerns of Laputa's scientists: "These people are under continual Disquietudes, never enjoying a minutes Peace of Mind; and their disturbances proceed from causes which very little effect the rest of Mortals. ... That, the Earth very narrowly escaped a Brush from the last Comet, which would have infallibly reduced it to Ashes; and that the next, which they have calculated for One and Thirty years hence, will probably destroy us." Don't we incessantly hear about the grave dangers comets and asteroids pose to us?

I was pleasantly surprised by Gulliver's Travels, a book that I expected to be a tediously difficult read. Instead, I found it to be fast-paced and interesting, though filled with references to various bodily excretions almost to the point of obsession. Having been introduced to some of the book's cool words that have been dictionary-ized (like "Lilliputian" and "Brobdingnagian") in Lemony Snicket's A Series of Unfortunate Events, I enjoyed learning a bit about how they came to be, though was most intrigued by two countries, Laputa and Luggnagg, that I'd never heard of before. In Part I, Gulliver sets out on his first voyage and lands in Lilliput, were the natives are only one-twelfth his size. After freeing himself from bondage, he ingratiates himself with the Lilliputians in various ways, including, in a moment of quick thinking, putting out a fire through peeing, in one of the many bodily-excretion-related incidents Swift shares with the reader. Another, on the same island, involves his dismay at having to...ahem...rid his body of fecal matter, including the lengths (involving wheelbarrows) that the locals must go to to facilitate the situation. Typical throughout his travels, Gulliver is able to learn the language and get on good terms with the native people. As happens after each major stop, he heads home to hang with the wife and kids, then and goes off on his next adventure. In Part II, readers learn about his second destination, Brobdingnag, basically, the land of the giants. Field laborers track him down and his caregivers end up showing him off to others at times as a sort of freak due to his diminutive size. Due to bad feelings about him on the part of a dwarf, he's involved in several "accidents" involving things like apples, a dog, etc. Again, he heads home. In Part III, where he visits several destinations, he gains passage as a ship's surgeon. Unfortunately, the captain takes on some bad guys, which leads to Gulliver being left adrift. He finds his way to Laputa, the land of math and music, where, among other things, the island is a perfect circle and its residents eat things formed into perfect geometric shapes. From there he moves on to Balnibarbi; Lagado, where they employ some backwards-seeming practices for plowing and constructing houses; Glubbdubdrib, where persons from the world over may be called up from the dead and questioned for a period not to exceed 24 hours; and Luggnagg, land of the extremely intriguing Struldbruggs, whose status as immortals turns out not to be as appealing as one might expect. In Part IV, he journeys to the "Country of the Houyhnhnms," where, in Planet of the Apes-like fashion, the beasts (horses) rule, and the Yahoos, more primitive versions of humans, are ruled. Within the story of his various adventures, even a semi-oblivious (in terms of history and politics) person like me will find interesting discussions about and references to social, religious, political, and philosophical issues that still exist today, almost 300 years after Swift wrote Gulliver's Travels. Also good: Silence by Shusaku Endo, Shogun by James Clavell, and Mayflower by Nathaniel Philbrick.

Gulliver's Travels: my first book ever on the Kindle(tm). Well, first about the mechanics of it all. I know, based on some reviews I have read, some versions of stories are poorly formatted or the font is bad or unadjustable or what have you--thankfully none of those issues was present here. It was a joy to be able to glide through the pages, looking words up at the speed of thought, never losing my place, and not having to stare at a backlit display for a change. None of this concerning Mr. Swift, though, who wrote this novel without even knowing of a typewriter or electricity. The book begins with Gulliver, an English gentleman of the early eighteenth century, talking of his love for travel at sea; I was beginning to feel as though I were reading Robinson Crusoe again. Things change quickly though as Gulliver lands on the land of Lilliput where the inhabitants are a mere half of a foot in height. Here begins Swift's parody of human culture that continues throughout Mr. Gulliver's three other tours of duty in the novel. Swift takes a characteristic or two of human nature and satirizes it with each civilization Gulliver encounters. The Lilliputians allow him to poke fun at politics and underhandedness, with every cutting each other's throat to win the king's favor. The Brobdingnagians give note to mankind's frailty, with poor Gulliver fearing for his life at every turn while the giants around him tiptoe to assure his safety. The third voyage lands Gulliver on an island in the middle of nowhere. He is rescued by the flying island of the Laputians, who are stuck with their heads in the clouds. I should say that Swift has a disdain for those who live lives in the stratosphere of philosophy and mathematics; the Laputians seem to be unable to function at all since their thoughts are always elsewhere. The forth, final, and most important voyage made by the narrator is to the land of the Houyhnhnms. The Houyhnhnms are hyperevolved horses who live their lives and run their society by rational means only. In that land there, there is a race of humans called Yahoos who live like wild animals. Swift's uses these two species to dichotomize our conflicting natures: the Houyhnhnms are our cognitive, rational faculties--our divinity--, while the Yahoos are the basal, animal-like natural side of us. Neither of these two polar opposites can be reproved for being what it is. However, it is our rational and refined halves that we wish to see have the upper hand. Unable to reconcile these two, the narrator goes a bit mad, and when he returns to England, becomes reclusive. I was thrilled with this book. Though I found some parts to be a bit slow-moving, the narrator dwelling in picayune details at times, the book truly is a work of art. This definitely opens the doors for Swift as an author to me.

I have reread 84 pages and referenced 93 memorable passages, and Gulliver’s Travels continues to amaze me with its wit and insight. The Dover Thrift Edition preserves the classic story beautifully, making it easy to follow and enjoy even decades after first reading. The satire and social commentary remain relevant, and the adventures of Gulliver are as engaging as ever. This edition is compact, affordable, and perfect for both first-time readers and longtime fans. Highly recommend for anyone who loves classic literature with enduring charm.

My seven-year-old daughter loves to read and I was eager to introduce her to the classics in English literature. I knew the original might be too daunting for her due to the high level vocabulary and have been looking around for a well-written adaptation that retains the essence of the original. The Stepping Stones Classic series of books for independent young readers fit the bill perfectly. These are abridged versions of the classics and are engaging without being too daunting for young readers who might otherwise be put off in attempting to tackle the original versions. I make it a point to read these books before passing them on to my daughter to ensure she will be able to handle the language on her own and also to check the content. Nick Eliopulos has done a commendable job on this adaptation. The language is neither too simple nor too advanced for an independent young reader. There are black and white illustrations that engaged my daughter (a visual learner) and kept her attention throughout the two hours (collectively) or so she spent reading this book. The chapters are short and the plot keeps moving along, keeping the reader engaged. Highly recommended for independent young readers ages 6-9.

This book is a masterpiece. I picked up an old dusty copy of this title at a book fair just so I could have this classic on my shelf. I was just out of college and not too interested in reading anything too boring and heavy. I figured I would scan through it just so I would be able to to say I read it and talk about it a little. What a surprise when I started reading- I couldn't put it down! It was the original version with the addition of footnotes that explained the political climate and other relevant facts of the day. I strongly suggest that you obtain a version with this information as without it you are missing 3/4 of the reading experience. I actually read the whole book twice just to try and pick up the funny, quirky things I might have missed. There are just so many levels to this book. On the surface it is a book about a man and his travels to strange faraway places. Underneath it is a scathing, comical, statement on the state of society and the movers and shakers of the day. I did not know that Jonathan Swift was a comic genius, but this is a fact you cannot miss if you read this book understanding the social satire weaved throught its chapters. I actually would find myself laughing out loud and being overcome with awe at the complexity of the humor the author was able to conjure.

There will be two parts to this review. The first, a review of this edition. The second, a review of the book. First, this edition: I cannot easily express how impressed I am with the Sterling Unabridged Classics that I have received thus far. The books are all hardbound, a must for any serious reader. Additionally, the print is large enough for easy reading without being overly large. Perhaps the nicest feature of these books is that each comes with a satin bookmark ribbon bound into the volume. The high quality of the paper and hard covers along with the above mentioned features makes each of the volumes published by Sterling a required addition to the library of any serious reader of classic literature. My only criticism is that the books could use more illustrations. The illustrations that are there are amazing but they are too few. All-in-all I would recommend any serious reader add these attractive and modestly priced editions to their own library. Second the book: I had never read Gulliver's Travels before. While I found all four of the stories that make up his travels to be enjoyable reads I must say that in writing these stories Swift simply recycles the same story over again with different supporting characters. Even the order in which events occur really does not change from story to story. In effect, each story follows the format 1. Gulliver is tired of being at home so he sets off on an adventure. 2. Gulliver is shipwrecked and stranded in a previously undiscovered land. 3. Gulliver is at first suspect among the inhabitants. 4. Gulliver wins over the inhabitants. 5. Gulliver becomes a hero to the inhabitants. 6. Gulliver is forced to leave because of some rule or law he inadvertently broke. 7. Gulliver reluctantly leaves. 8. Gulliver is rescued and returned home. Once you read the first story there is really little new to uncover in the remaining stories. Additionally, I was not aware that the book is actually a thinly veiled commentary on politics and life in Swift's era. If you are not aware of what was going on in the world and in politics during Swift's lifetime much of the symbolism will be lost on you. Overall, while an enjoyable read overall I found the repetition tedious and near the end I found myself anxious for the end. I would recommend that each story be read with a break in between where other titles are read to relieve the stale feeling one gets by reading the same story repeatedly.

Gulliver is far from being only a children's book, as it is commonly misperceived by those who have not read the unabridged version - but a complex and subtle tale that can bring immense enjoyment to adults. Swift was a genius the rank of Shakespeare. * NOTE: IF YOU ARE A CHILD, OR A READER WITH LIMITED VOCABULARY OR PATIENCE, I RECOMMEND GETTING THE AUDIO BOOK FOR ONLY $1.99 FROM AUDIBLE DOT COM, AND DOING "IMMERSIVE READING" - READ AND LISTEN AT THE SAME TIME. IT GOES MUCH FASTER THIS WAY, WITH NO LOSS OF THE FUN. * I haven't enjoyed a book like this one for a long time, and i doubt there is another one quite like it. Very rarely one finds a book that: 1 - deals with themes that are important, universal and relevant even today - science, government, corruption, greed, integrity, upbringing, the role of feelings vs intellect. 2 - embeds these themes in a highly entertaining plot that fleshes out fantasies common to all of us (e.g., What if I discovered a different civilization and, as the first representative of mankind, needed to describe my own to them?; What would it be if I suddenly became much smaller (or much larger) than others?; What if I were immortal?). Everything the reader has ever dreamt to read about will be found in this book! 3 - presents this plot with a narrative mastery of such caliber that the reader enjoys every second to the brim, and is brought extreme reading satisfaction at every juncture. 4 - combines great imagination with great rationality - for even the most fantastical suppositions an explanation and context have been designed, the "juiciest" bits and most interesting and impossible questions are not omitted as in other authors, but have been well thought out and articulated to the full satisfaction of the reader. This is a MUST READ! I am becoming a big Swift fan and can't wait to read his other works!