Reproduction of the original.

Reproduction of the original.

A Tale of a Tub is the masterpiece of Swift's earlier years. It is presented here with The Battle of the Books, The Mechanical Operation of the Spirit, and the Additions. ABOUT THE SERIES: For over 100 years Oxford World's Classics has made available the widest range of literature from around the globe. Each affordable volume reflects Oxford's commitment to scholarship, providing the most accurate text plus a wealth of other valuable features, including expert introductions by leading authorities, helpful notes to clarify the text, up-to-date bibliographies for further study, and much more.

Jump into Jonathan Swift's take-no-prisoners parody of seventeenth-century Christianity. Equal parts uproarious humor and incisive satire, A Tale of a Tub dissects the foibles and shortcomings of three brothers, each of whom represents a different branch of the Christian religion. Swift, himself a clergyman, sealed his reputation as one of England's most ruthless -- and notorious -- satirists with the book's publication. It's a thought-provoking and rollicking read whether you're a believer or a dyed-in-the-wool skeptic. As part of our mission to publish great works of literary fiction and nonfiction, Sheba Blake Publishing Corp. is extremely dedicated to bringing to the forefront the amazing works of long dead and truly talented authors.

This vintage book contains Jonathan Swift's 1704 satire, "A Tale of a Tub". The first major work that he wrote, it is a prose parody about two brothers who are each representative of the chief aspects of western Christianity. It mainly deals with the ideas of religious enthusiasm, pride, and credulity. Published at a time when religion was an intrinsic aspect of politics, the work was widely condemned, with Queen Anne going as far as to call it "profane". Contents include: "The Introduction", "A Digression Concerning Critics", "A Tale of a Tub", "A Digression in the Modern Kind", "A Tale of a Tub", "A Digression in Praise of Digressions", "A Tale of a Tub", "A Digression Concerning the Original", "A Farther Digression", "A Tale of a Tub", et cetera. Jonathan Swift (1667-1745) was an Anglo-Irish essayist, satirist, poet, and cleric. Many vintage books such as this are increasingly scarce and expensive. We are republishing this volume now in an affordable, modern edition complete with a specially commissioned new introduction.

Draws on discoveries made in the past three decades to paint a new portrait of the satirist, speculating on his parentage, love life, and relationships while claiming that the public image he projected was intentionally misleading.