Sign-In
Cart
A Tale of a Tub: Written for the Universal Improvement of Mankind
Hardcover
ISBN13: 9781026022313
Publisher: Tradd Street Press
Published: Feb 14 2026
Pages: 154
Weight: 0.87
Height: 0.44 Width: 6.14 Depth: 9.21
Language: English
A Tale of a Tub is one of Jonathan Swift's most celebrated and complex prose satires. Written as a masterful parody of contemporary literary and religious excess, the work explores the divisions within Christianity through a humorous allegory involving three brothers: Peter, Martin, and Jack. Each brother represents a different branch of the faith-Roman Catholicism, Anglicanism, and Dissenting Protestantism-and their struggles with their father's will serve as a biting critique of religious corruption, dogma, and sectarianism.
Interspersed with these narrative sections are a series of brilliant digressions on subjects ranging from the nature of madness to the abuses of modern learning and literary criticism. Swift's sharp wit and unparalleled mastery of irony are on full display as he deconstructs the intellectual and social pretensions of his age. A Tale of a Tub remains a cornerstone of 18th-century literature, offering a profound and often provocative examination of human folly and the limits of reason. This work established Swift as a preeminent satirist and continues to be studied for its intricate structure and its enduring relevance to historical debates surrounding faith, authority, and scholarship.
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.
Also from
Swift, Jonathan
A Modest Proposal & Other Short Satires (Warbler Classics Annotated Edition)
Swift, Jonathan
Paperback
The Shipwreck Collection (4 Books): Robinson Crusoe, Gulliver's Travels, Treasure Island, and The Island of Doctor Moreau (Deluxe Library Edition)
Stevenson, Robert Louis
Defoe, Daniel
Swift, Jonathan
Hardcover
The Voyage to Lilliput / Imala gara Lilliput (Gulliver's Travels / Imala Gulliver): Tranzlaty English Afaan Oromoo
Swift, Jonathan
Paperback
The Voyage to Lilliput / Putovanje u Liliput (Gulliver's Travels / Guliverova putovanja): Tranzlaty English Bosanski
Swift, Jonathan
Paperback
Travels into Several Remote Nations of the World. In Four Parts.: By Lemuel Gulliver, First a Surgeon, and then a Captain of Several Ships
Gulliver, Lemuel
Swift, Jonathan
Paperback
Gulliver's Travels: Into Several Remote Nations of the World: Complete and Unabridged
Swift, Jonathan
Paperback
Gulliver's Travels (Royal Collector's Edition) (Case Laminate Hardcover with Jacket)
Swift, Jonathan
Hardcover
La conduite des alliez et du dernier ministere, en commenc ant et continuant la guerre
Swift, Jonathan
Paperback
The Voyage to Lilliput / Ny dia mankany Lilliput (Gulliver's Travels / Ny Dia nataon'i Gulliver): Tranzlaty English Malagasy
Swift, Jonathan
Paperback
Vanessa and her Correspondence With Jonathan Swift
Vanessa, 1690-1723
Freeman, A. Martin
Swift, Jonathan
Paperback
The Voyage to Lilliput / Safarkii Lilliput (Gulliver's Travels / Safarrada Gulliver): Tranzlaty English Af Soomaali
Swift, Jonathan
Paperback
The Voyage to Lilliput / Safari ya Lilliput (Gulliver's Travels / Safari za Gulliver): Tranzlaty English Kiswahili
Swift, Jonathan
Paperback
The Voyage to Lilliput / Tafiya zuwa Lilliput (Gulliver's Travels / Tafiyar Gulliver): Tranzlaty English Hausa
Swift, Jonathan
Paperback
The Voyage to Lilliput / Leeto la ho ea Lilliput (Gulliver's Travels / Maeto a Gulliver): Tranzlaty English Sesotho
Swift, Jonathan
Paperback
Voyages du Capitaine Lemuel Gulliver, En Divers Pays Eloignes, Tome II de III
Swift, Jonathan
Paperback
The Prose Works of Jonathan Swift, D.D. - Volume 03; Swift's Writings on Religion and the Church - Volume 1
Swift, Jonathan
Paperback
The Prose Works of Jonathan Swift, D.D. - Volume 07; Historical and Political Tracts-Irish
Swift, Jonathan
Paperback
The Prose Works of Jonathan Swift, D.D. - Volume 04; Swift's Writings on Religion and the Church - Volume 2
Swift, Jonathan
Paperback
Los Viajes de Gulliver: Una exploración satírica de la naturaleza humana a través de mundos fantásticos
Swift, Jonathan
Paperback
The Voyage to Lilliput / Rejsen til Lilliput (Gulliver's Travels / Gullivers rejser): Tranzlaty English Dansk
Swift, Jonathan
Paperback
The Voyage to Lilliput / Vwayaj la nan Liliput (Gulliver's Travels / Vwayaj Gulliver yo): Tranzlaty English Kreyòl Ayisyen
Swift, Jonathan
Paperback
Navigatio ad Lilliput / The Voyage to Lilliput (Itinera Gulliveri / Gulliver's Travels): Tranzlaty Latin English
Swift, Jonathan
Paperback
The Voyage to Lilliput / Mobembo na Lilliput (Gulliver's Travels / Mibembo ya Gulliver): Tranzlaty English Lingála
Swift, Jonathan
Paperback
The Voyage to Lilliput / Reisen til Lilliput (Gulliver's Travels / Gullivers reiser): Tranzlaty English Norsk
Swift, Jonathan
Paperback
The Voyage to Lilliput / Podróż do Liliputu (Gulliver's Travels / Podróże Guliwera): Tranzlaty English Polsku
Swift, Jonathan
Paperback
Voyages du capitaine Gulliver en divers pays éloignés: Voyages du capitaine Gulliver en divers pays éloignés
Swift, Jonathan
Hardcover
The Prose Works of Jonathan Swift; Volume 4
Lecky, William Edward Hartpole
Dennis, George Ravenscroft
Swift, Jonathan
Hardcover
The Prose Works of Jonathan Swift: The Drapier's Letters
Bernard, John Henry
Swift, Jonathan
Dennis, George Ravenscroft
Paperback
A Tale Of A Tub: The Battle Of The Books: And A Discourse Concerning The Mechanical Operations Of The Spirit
Swift, Jonathan
Hardcover
The Works Of Dr. Jonathan Swift ...: Accurately Revised ... Adorned With Copper-plates
Swift, Jonathan
Hardcover
The Works of Jonathan Swift: Journal to Stella (Letter I-Xxxvii)
Scott, Walter
Swift, Jonathan
Paperback
The Works of Jonathan Swift, Containing Additional Letters, Tracts, and Poems, With Notes
Swift, Jonathan
Paperback
The Prose Works of Jonathan Swift: The Journal to Stella. A.D. 1710-1713
Lecky, William Edward Hartpole
Scott, Temple
Swift, Jonathan
Hardcover
Les Voyages de Gulliver: Une aventure extraordinaire dans le pays des Lilliputiens
Swift, Jonathan
Paperback
The Works of Jonathan Swift; containing additional Letters, Tracts and Poems,: Vol. II
Swift, Jonathan
Paperback
Vorzüglichste prosaische Schriften, satyrischen, humoristischen und andern Inhalts
Swift, Jonathan
Paperback
Gulliver's Travels into Several Remote Nations of the World: in large print
Swift, Jonathan
Paperback
The Prose Works of Jonathan Swift: Swift's Writings on Religion and the Church; Volume III
Swift, Jonathan
Hardcover
The Prose Works of Jonathan Swift: The Journal to Stella. A.D. 1710-1713
Scott, Temple
Swift, Jonathan
Lecky, William Edward Hartpole
Paperback
The Works of Jonathan Swift: Journal to Stella (Letter I-Xxxvii)
Scott, Walter
Swift, Jonathan
Hardcover
The Works of Jonathan Swift: Containing Additional Letters, Tracts, and Poems Not Hitherto Published
Swift, Jonathan
Hardcover
Les Voyages extraordinaires de Gulliver: un roman de littérature jeunesse de Jonathan Swift
Swift, Jonathan
Paperback
Voyages Du Capitaine Lemuel Gulliver. Tome 14
Swift, Jonathan
Guyot Desfontaines, Pierre-François
Paperback
The Works of of the Rev. Jonathan Swift: Drapier's Letters [Etc: Volume 9 Of The Works Of Of The Rev. Jonathan Swift
Swift, Jonathan
Sheridan, Thomas
Nichols, John
Paperback
Large Print - Gulliver's Travels - Grand Type Collector's Edition - Matte Hardcover with Dust Jacket (Large Print Edition)
Swift, Jonathan
Hardcover
The Journal of a Modern Lady. In a Letter to a Person of Quality. By the Author of Cadenus and Vanessa
Swift, Jonathan
Hardcover
Travels Into Several Remote Nations of the World. By Capt. Lemuel Guliver [sic]. Faithfully Abridged
Swift, Jonathan
Hardcover
Volume V. of the Author's Works. Containing The Conduct of the Allies, and The Examiners. of 5; Volume 5
Swift, Jonathan
Hardcover
The Lady's Dressing Room. To Which is Added, A Poem on Cutting Down the old Thorn at Market Hill. By the Rev. Dr. S-T
Swift, Jonathan
Hardcover
The Beasts Confession to the Priest, on Observing how Most men Mistake Their own Talents. By J. S. D.S.P
Swift, Jonathan
Hardcover
Miscellanies: Or Essays Literary, Political, and Moral. By the Reverend Dr. Jonathan Swift,
Swift, Jonathan
Hardcover
Also in
General Fiction
Elizabeth Spencer: Novels & Stories (Loa #344): The Voice at the Back Door / The Light in the Piazza / Knights and Dragons / Stories
Spencer, Elizabeth
Hardcover
Anniversaries, Volume 2: From a Year in the Life of Gesine Cresspahl, April 1968-August 1968
Johnson, Uwe
Paperback
Johnny Panic and the Bible of Dreams: Short Stories, Prose, and Diary Excerpts
Plath, Sylvia
Paperback
Selected Writings: Robert Musil: Young Torless, Three Women, the Perfecting of a Love, and Other Writings
Agee, Joel
Musil, Robert
Paperback
Before Gatsby: The First Twenty-Six Stories
Bruccoli, Matthew J.
Baughman, Judith
Fitzgerald, F. Scott
Paperback