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A Tale of a Tub
Paperback
ISBN13: 9781025392448
Publisher: Tradd Street Press
Published: Feb 14 2026
Pages: 158
Weight: 0.51
Height: 0.34 Width: 6.14 Depth: 9.21
Language: English
A Tale of a Tub stands as one of the most brilliant and complex satires in the English language. Written by Jonathan Swift, this masterpiece is a multi-layered exploration of religious corruption and the follies of modern learning. The narrative primarily follows the allegorical adventures of three brothers-Peter, Martin, and Jack-who represent the Roman Catholic Church, the Church of England, and the various Dissenting Protestant sects. Through their struggles to interpret their father's will and manage their symbolic coats, Swift delivers a scathing critique of theological hair-splitting and the vanity of institutionalized religion.
Interspersed with the main narrative are a series of digressions on subjects ranging from critics and modern authorship to madness. These sections serve to satirize the intellectual pretension and pedantry of the late 17th and early 18th centuries. Swift's use of irony, parody, and wit makes A Tale of a Tub a foundational text in the history of satire, challenging readers to distinguish between genuine wisdom and mere rhetorical artifice. This work remains a profound examination of human nature, faith, and the often-absurd pursuit of knowledge, solidifying Swift's reputation as a master of prose and social commentary.
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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