A Political Biography of Jonathan Swift

David Oakleaf

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Now most famous as the author of Gulliver's Travels, Jonathan Swift (1667–1745) was one of the most important propagandists and satirists of his day. Modern readers have difficulty placing him on the political spectrum. He rejected political parties as factions but supported the Whigs and then the Tories. He defended the exclusive privileges of (Anglican) Church of Ireland, yet he was an eloquent champion of liberty. Insisting he was English, he became a celebrated Anglo-Irish patriot. This study seeks to contextualize Swift within the political arena of his day.

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A Political Biography of Jonathan Swift

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Contents

Frontmatter
pp i-iv

CONTENTS
pp v-v

Dedication
pp vi-vi

Acknowledgements
pp vii-viii

List of Abbreviations
pp ix-x

Introduction: ‘The Church Had Never Such a Writer’
pp 1-12

1 - Swift, War, and Ireland: ‘An Heap of Conspiracies, Rebellions, Murders, Massacres, Revolutions, Banishments’
pp 13-30

2 - Courting the Favour of the Great: A Discourse and A Tale of a Tub
pp 31-64

3 - ‘An Entire Friend to the Established Church’: Churchman among the Statesmen and Wits
pp 65-94

4 - The Echo of the Coffee House and the Voice of the Kingdom: Propagandist for a Peace
pp 95-140

5 - ‘Do I become a Slave in Six Hours, by Crossing the Channel?’: The Dean, the Drapier and Irish Politics
pp 141-182

Conclusion: ‘Upon this Great Foundation of Misanthropy’
pp 183-202

Notes
pp 203-238

Works Cited
pp 239-252

Index
pp 253-266

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A Political Biography of Jonathan Swift

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