Gulliver's Travels (Penguin Classics)

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!

Arrivé en temps et en heure. En parfait état. Avec en surprise un magnifique marque page qui donne encore plus envie de lire ! Je recommande cette boutique ! (Quand au livre... je suis au milieu du bouquin et mon commentaire ne peut pas être si élogieux !😂)

texto original

Gulliver's travels Gulliver's travels is about a man called Gulliver, who was a surgeon in England but became a sailor. His adventures and voyages were to 4 different islands, encountering different species and people very different to humankind. His first voyage was to Lilliput, where the book starts. It was an island where everyone was tiny and he was a giant. He spent a while there and learnt the language whilst being accommodated by the king and visiting him regularly. The tiny people (Lilliputians) thought to use him as a weapon to fight off their enemies, the Blefuscu army. He was given a set of rules to follow. Eventually, Gulliver left this island. His second voyage was to Brobdingnag when he was pushed off-course trying to return to England. This island was a land of giants, where he was tiny. He was taken in by a family of farmers and looked after and once again visited the king and queen as he was something they had never seen before. The farmer's daughter, who he called Glumdalclitch - little nurse - looked after him and put him in a box as his home. One day an eagle picked up his box and flew him to the sea, then dropped him in the sea inside his box, left to float. He then is picked up by an English ship who found his floating box in the sea. He goes back to his wife and children for a while then sets out for sea again. Whilst out at sea, he is approached by a pirate ship and is forced off his boat by himself on a rowboat to an island. In the third voyage, he goes to a floating island called Laputa. In this island, the people there excelled in astronomy, and based all things off of shapes, maths and music. The people here have tails and an odd appearance. He then through Glubbdubdrib, a place of sorcerers on his way to Japan, to return back home to England. In the fourth and final voyage, he goes to an island of horses, called Houyhnhnms, and human-like apes - called Yahoos. These Houyhnhnms are very different to humans, they are kind and lack evil and have wisdom that humans do not. They live very differently with no lying or arguments. The Yahoos are very violent and savage beasts with claws who they stay away from and despise. Even Yahoos despise other Yahoos, they are a very weird race. The Houyhnhnms think Gulliver is a Yahoo, from a similar appearance but realise he is different in nature. He stays at this island for years, learning to live like them and talk like them, and grows a hatred for humans/yahoos. He wants to stay but one day he is forced to leave as he is similar to a yahoo but he tries hard to stay there. He leaves and goes to a small island near it where there are a portuguese-speaking tribe, who take him back to England, even though he hates them and doesn’t want to go back. He returns to his wife and children after 5 years, who are happy to see him. Gulliver, on the other hand, is disgusted by them and sees them as Yahoos, not being able to stand their smell. He takes years to get back to living with humans and distances himself from his family and friends, and bought horses to take care of and spend most of his time with, as they were like Houyhnhnms. He seems to have learnt some wisdom and a valuable lesson from this wiser species and closes the book by hoping the yahoos (humans) around him would go to different virtue lands like him.

As pertinent today as when it was written

Prima di accostarsi alla lettura di questa grandiosa opera, bisogna sgomberare la mente da certe errate convinzioni che si sono consolidate nel corso del tempo, dove si credeva che tale libro fosse una sorta di semplice fiaba destinata perlopiù ai bambini. Probabilmente alcune traduzioni superficiali o castrazioni del testo hanno contribuito a diffondere una così imprecisa e deludente opinione. Si tratta invece di un diario di viaggio dove dietro l’allegoria della scoperta di alcune singolari isole, nate dalla fantasia dell’autore, si maschera un ben altro intento, vale a dire, mettere a nudo tutte le colpe e i difetti della società dell’epoca, i quali si possono senza dubbio ritrovare in quelle successive nonché in quella odierna. Politica, economia, guerra, religione, scienza sono passate attraverso un setaccio che filtra anche il più piccolo dei granelli, e si accompagna a una scrittura ora corrosiva ora grottesca, ma mai banale o scontata. I quattro naufragi descritti da Swift nel suo libro, servono proprio per fare dei netti raffronti tra gli sconosciuti abitanti di queste località e i suoi consimili che dimorano nei cosiddetti paesi civili. Usi e costumi dei popoli con cui viene a contatto sono per l’errante Gulliver delle incredibili sorprese, e sovente egli rimane stupito dai loro comportamenti, il più delle volte alieni da violenza, avidità, invidia, rancore, lussuria che tanto ritrova negli individui di casa propria. Per tale motivo i lillipuziani che lo raccolgono sulla spiaggia, dopo il suo primo naufragio, non mostrano alcuna avversione nei suoi confronti, ma solo iniziali precauzioni che in seguito tuttavia svaniscono per dare modo al mastodontico ospite di instaurare con loro un rapporto di reciproca utilità. Lo stesso dicasi durante il secondo naufragio dove egli si scopre pigmeo di fronte agli abitanti “alti come campanili”. Qui, a onor del vero, viene un po’ sfruttato sino a diventare oggetto della curiosità di costoro che si accalcano per vedere questo esserino tenuto sul palmo di una mano della titanica bambina che lo custodisce con devozione. Queste due contrapposizioni sono lì a dimostrare che non sono tanto le loro fattezze di creature fisicamente diverse a identificarli, quanto piuttosto l’animo e la mente che ne governano gesti e sentimenti, consci come tutto sia vano ed effimero. Nel terzo viaggio egli finisce nell’isola volante di Laputa, abitata da intellettuali e scienziati. Nell’occasione, l’autore usa il fioretto pungente della satira per mettere alla berlina quanti membri di questa casta, laggiù nella sua Inghilterra, si pavoneggiano, ritenendosi fautori di pensieri sublimi o di scoperte rivoluzionarie, ponendosi alla testa di una umanità sovente pedissequa. Nel quarto e ultimo dei suoi viaggi, il nostro protagonista viene sbarcato su quello che per lui sarà il più incredibile dei territori, dove a risiedere sono dei nobili cavalli dotati di ragione e di capacità espressiva, al cui servizio sono posti dei gruppi di schiavi, dalla forma umanoide, chiamati yahoo, i quali, a differenza dei loro padroni, si abbruttiscono vivendo nel sudiciume e mantenendo abitudini disgustose. Durante il lungo periodo che rimarrà su questa isola, Gulliver, dopo aver assimilato i modi raffinati di vivere dei suoi eccelsi ospiti, si dimostrerà restio a lasciare quell’angolo sperduto di mondo, e al ritorno in patria si accorgerà che riprendere a frequentare i propri simili non sarà per nulla facile, tanto da diventare alquanto misantropo, rinchiudendosi in una ostinata solitudine. Quasi a voler ricalcare il finale di questa sua opera, Swift trascorrerà il resto della vita in una sorta di clausura, e giunto al termine dei suoi giorni egli trarrà l’ultimo respiro in un triste ospedale, forse ancora sognando i suoi fantasiosi personaggi che gli hanno donato la meritata immortalità, al pari di Dante, Cervantes e Shakespeare.