A Modest Proposal and Other Satirical Works (Dover Thrift Editions)
by Jonathan Swift
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Read in December, 2007
recommends it for:
thinkers, people who appreciate humor
A Modest Proposal and Other Satirical Works contains five essays by Swift. A Modest Proposal focuses upon politics, Battle of the Books upon literature and philosophy, and the remaining three address religious belief and practice.
A Modest Proposal is easily the most famous of Swift's essays, and as such most people are aware of its premise. It is incredibly witty, brief, and poignant. A fine satire.
To appreciate Battle of the Books ...more
A Modest Proposal is easily the most famous of Swift's essays, and as such most people are aware of its premise. It is incredibly witty, brief, and poignant. A fine satire.
To appreciate Battle of the Books ...more
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This is one of my favorite satirical works of all time in which Swift proposes, to solve the problem of the poverty and starvation rampant in Ireland, that the poor Irish eat their own children to stave off hunger.
"I have been assured by a very knowing American of my acquaintance in London, that a young healthy child well nursed, is, at a year old, a most delicious nourishing and wholesome food, whether stewed, roasted, baked, or boiled; and I make no doubt that it will equally serve ...more
"I have been assured by a very knowing American of my acquaintance in London, that a young healthy child well nursed, is, at a year old, a most delicious nourishing and wholesome food, whether stewed, roasted, baked, or boiled; and I make no doubt that it will equally serve ...more
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I originally had two shelves:
books that make me want to have children so I can read to them
and
books that make me want to have children so I can eat them
But really this is the only one that would fall in the latter category.
This is one of the greatest pieces of satire ever written, but seriously, have you ever noticed that babies really do taste better? Think about it. Veal, lamb, kittens. I could go on.
books that make me want to have children so I can read to them
and
books that make me want to have children so I can eat them
But really this is the only one that would fall in the latter category.
This is one of the greatest pieces of satire ever written, but seriously, have you ever noticed that babies really do taste better? Think about it. Veal, lamb, kittens. I could go on.
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trivia: jonathan swift invented the name vanessa.
anyway,
i wrote my own modest proposal once.. creating a line of all natural human breast milk products from the breasts of single welfare mothers. building an idyllic commune/farm to house all them complete with schools, medical care, and childcare. mother's milk, mother's cheese, mother's ice cream...
i'd eat it.
anyway,
i wrote my own modest proposal once.. creating a line of all natural human breast milk products from the breasts of single welfare mothers. building an idyllic commune/farm to house all them complete with schools, medical care, and childcare. mother's milk, mother's cheese, mother's ice cream...
i'd eat it.
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"A Modest Proposal" has to be the best piece of satire ever written (if not one of the best essays ever written). Swift brilliantly weaves his argument, and anyone who has any appreciation for Irish humor and history will find a deeper level of pleasure in how Swift uses his wry sense of humor and intellect to tell the British off.
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if you have any sort of political and or governmental interest; namely for its near humorous oppressing manner. then you need to read this. and you'll understand how governments, how politics, politicians and the like are completely inane and unecessary.
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A Modest Proposal is funny. It's political satire at it's finest. I almost wish I had been in England to read this over my morning pastry in the editorial page of the newspaper. Although I doubt I would have been as amused if this were aimed at me.
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recommends it for:
everyone who loves satire
In general, I love satire. and this writing is like my favorite classic satire of all time. Swift is really being 'modest' while he proposes some solutions to end poverty, in which the condition is very tragic, it is funny in a cynical way.
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Loved this when I first read it. Swift's proposal for dealing with poverty and starvation is quite advanced for his tiem period. He is a master of satire on government, human experience, and the state of the world.
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Read in March, 2008
So..I didn't read the WHOLE book. Only the essay, but I couldn't find just the essay (couldn't find it on the goodreads...)
From reading just that essay, I would like to read the rest though, he's hilarious.
From reading just that essay, I would like to read the rest though, he's hilarious.
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Read in January, 1992
I was in high school when I first read this and once I got over the shock of the proposal I grew to appreciate the wit in the satire and the history behind the motivation and purpose of the author for writing it.
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Read in November, 2007
recommends it for:
everyone
Swift is the master satirist. If you haven't at least read "A Modest Proposal," you should. It's the textbook example of Juvenalian satire. Plus it's hillarious. And horrific. And awesome.
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satire at its finest. I loved being in class when people were worked up about this being serious, and I can't even imagine what it was like back in the day when Swift wrote it. hysterical.
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who doesn't like Swift?? in this essay, he talks about solving the hunger problem in ireland by eating irish babies. obviously satirical, but you could write an essay on food about this...
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Read in January, 1995
recommends it for:
People who don't like childen and want to cure hunger
Come on! OF COURSE I'm going to like a book that proposes eating children. Who are we kidding???
Just wonderful. I love that people were outraged. Grow a sense-of-humor people!
Just wonderful. I love that people were outraged. Grow a sense-of-humor people!
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recommends it for:
comedian
Such original shocking humor and irony. A modest proposal made a lot of people angry when it was released into the high society of London while the Irish starved. I loved it.
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I only read "A Modest Proposal," but there's no listing for just that. Simply brilliant. I think my favorite part is watching first-time readers who don't get the satire.
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Read in January, 2000
recommends it for:
baby eating people
the sad thing is, some people thought the whole "let's eat poor people's babies" thing was a good idea. they were obviously the ones being jabbed in the satire :)
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A great collection of essays from Jonathan Swift. Satire at its best. Plus it looks great on your shelf and is a great source of clever quotes. Oh yes!
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Read in January, 1998
I read only "A Modest Proposal" when I was in school. I think we read it in Brit Lit with Rit, but I also remember a discussion on it in college.
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