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An Extempore Exhumation: The Skull of Swift
Paperback
Literary FiguresLiterary CriticismIrish History
ISBN13: 9781025991504
Publisher: Tradd Street Press
Published: Feb 14 2026
Pages: 384
Weight: 1.18
Height: 0.79 Width: 6.14 Depth: 9.21
Language: English
An Extempore Exhumation: The Skull of Swift is a compelling piece of literary criticism and historical commentary penned by the renowned poet and critic T. S. Eliot. Written as an insightful response to Shane Leslie's investigation into the physical remains of the great Irish satirist Jonathan Swift, this work offers a unique intersection between biography, forensic curiosity, and literary legacy. Eliot uses the occasion of this physical exhumation to delve into the enduring psychological and intellectual presence of Swift within the English literary canon.
In this essay, Eliot explores the fascination with the physical reality of historical figures, reflecting on how the material remnants of a writer-specifically Swift's skull-can influence our modern understanding of their genius and their suffering. As a significant document of early 20th-century criticism, it demonstrates Eliot's analytical prowess and his deep engagement with the giants of 18th-century literature. Readers interested in the life of Jonathan Swift, the critical voice of T. S. Eliot, or the broader themes of mortality and reputation will find this a profound and thought-provoking study that bridges the gap between the material past and literary immortality.
This work has been selected by scholars as being culturally important, and is part of the knowledge base of civilization as we know it. This work was reproduced from the original artifact, and remains as true to the original work as possible. Therefore, you may see the original copyright references, library stamps (as most of these works have been housed in our most important libraries around the world), and other notations in the work.
This work is in the public domain in the United States of America, and possibly other nations. Within the United States, you may freely copy and distribute this work, as no entity (individual or corporate) has a copyright on the body of the work.
As a reproduction of a historical artifact, this work may contain missing or blurred pages, poor pictures, errant marks, etc. Scholars believe, and we concur, that this work is important enough to be preserved, reproduced, and made generally available to the public. We appreciate your support of the preservation process, and thank you for being an important part of keeping this knowledge alive and relevant.
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