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Chapter VIII.

from Part II. - A Voyage to Brobdingnag.

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  14 May 2026

David Womersley
Affiliation:
University of Oxford
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Summary

Gulliver’s Travels is one of the landmarks of world literature. Gulliver’s adventures with the tiny but spirited Lilliputians, the giant inhabitants of Brobdingnag, the flying island of Laputa, and the rational horses of Houyhnhnmland have become globally famous for their satirical wit and visionary creativity. Early editions credited Gulliver himself as the author, and many readers believed him to be a real person. Later commentators have variously described the work as proto-science fiction, as inspired children’s literature and as a forerunner of the modern novel. The editor’s introduction to this celebratory anniversary edition contextualises Gulliver’s Travels in Swift’s life and work as a whole while exploring its rich and remarkable afterlife. All the original illustrations and maps are included, as are the frontispiece portraits. Generous annotation explains textual details which might now seem obscure, and appendices contain additional documents and images to enhance contemporary understanding and enjoyment.

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  • Chapter VIII.
  • Jonathan Swift
  • Edited with Introduction and Notes by David Womersley, University of Oxford
  • Book: Gulliver's Travels
  • Online publication: 14 May 2026
  • Chapter DOI: https://doi.org/10.1017/9781009553162.020
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  • Chapter VIII.
  • Jonathan Swift
  • Edited with Introduction and Notes by David Womersley, University of Oxford
  • Book: Gulliver's Travels
  • Online publication: 14 May 2026
  • Chapter DOI: https://doi.org/10.1017/9781009553162.020
Available formats
×

Save book to Google Drive

To save content items to your account, please confirm that you agree to abide by our usage policies. If this is the first time you use this feature, you will be asked to authorise Cambridge Core to connect with your account. Find out more about saving content to Google Drive.

  • Chapter VIII.
  • Jonathan Swift
  • Edited with Introduction and Notes by David Womersley, University of Oxford
  • Book: Gulliver's Travels
  • Online publication: 14 May 2026
  • Chapter DOI: https://doi.org/10.1017/9781009553162.020
Available formats
×