GULLIVER’S TRAVELS
into several
REMOTE NATIONS OF THE WORLD
BY JONATHAN SWIFT, D.D.,
dean of st. patrick’s, dublin.
[First published in1726–7.]
Contents
THE PUBLISHER TO THE READER.
[As given in the original edition.]
The author of these Travels, Mr. Lemuel Gulliver, is my ancient and intimatefriend; there is likewise some relation between us on the mother’s side.About three years ago, Mr. Gulliver growing weary of the concourse of curiouspeople coming to him at his house in Redriff, made a small purchase of land,with a convenient house, near Newark, in Nottinghamshire, his native country;where he now lives retired, yet in good esteem among his neighbours.
Although Mr. Gulliver was born in Nottinghamshire, where his father dwelt, yetI have heard him say his family came from Oxfordshire; to confirm which, I haveobserved in the churchyard at Banbury in that county, several tombs andmonuments of the Gullivers.
Before he quitted Redriff, he left the custody of the following papers in myhands, with the liberty to dispose of them as I should think fit. I havecarefully perused them three times. The style is very plain and simple; and theonly fault I find is, that the author, after the manner of travellers, is alittle too circumstantial. There is an air of truth apparent through the whole;and indeed the author was so distinguished for his veracity, that it became asort of proverb among his neighbours at Redriff, when any one affirmed a thing,to say, it was as true as if Mr. Gulliver had spoken it.
By the advice of several worthy persons, to whom, with the author’spermission, I communicated these papers, I now venture to send them into theworld, hoping they may be, at least for some time, a better entertainment toour young noblemen, than the common scribbles of politics and party.
This volume would have been at least twice as large, if I had not made bold tostrike out innumerable passages relating to the winds and tides, as well as tothe variations and bearings in the several voyages, together with the minutedescriptions of the management of the ship in storms, in the style of sailors;likewise the account of longitudes and latitudes; wherein I have reason toapprehend, that Mr. Gulliver may be a little dissatisfied. But I was resolvedto fit the work as much as possible to the general capacity of readers.However, if my own ignorance in sea affairs shall have led me to commit somemistakes, I alone am answerable for them. And if any traveller hath a curiosityto see the whole work at large, as it came from the hands of the author, I willbe ready to gratify him.
As for any further particul