LONGMAN A Preface to Swift (Preface Books)

This thematically arranged text follows a chronological account of Jonathan Swift's life. It focuses primarily on "Gulliver's Travels", but also discusses other works including early satires, political writings, poems and letters. Detailed chronological charts place Swift's life and works in political and cultural context, and illustrations and commentaries highlight Swift's connections with London, Ireland and his contemporaries. The book also focuses on the Irish dimension in Swift's life, as well as his writing to and about women, and short biographies of leading figures of Swift's day are cross-referenced, to provide a better understanding of the writer and his times.