The Battle of the Books (Oneworld Classics Gift Editions) - Hardcover

Swift, Jonathan

Hardcover

ISBN 10: 1847492053 ISBN 13: 9781847492050

Publisher: Oneworld Classics, 2012

Synopsis

Swift's satire uses a literal epic battle between books to explore the debates of his time among authors, and between authors and critics Inspired by Boileau's Lutrin and illustrating the debate within European intellectual circles between the "Ancients," who argued that all essential knowledge was to be found in classical texts, and the "Moderns," who claimed that contemporary learning superseded the old sources, this work shows Swift at his wittiest and most trenchant. In this early satire, various books in St. James's Library take on a life of their own and come into conflict with one another, in a pastiche of the heroic epic genre.

About this title

About the Author

Jonathan Swift (1667–1745) was one of the most influential political writers of his time. He is best remembered for Gulliver's Travels and the political satire A Modest Proposal.

Review

"From Swift we absorb everything we can get: his big heart, his bitter, bloody humour, his lonesome brilliance balance out all the quirks of his eccentricity."  —Hermann Hesse

Edition details

• Publisher: Oneworld Classics
• Publication date: 2012
• ISBN 10: 1847492053
• ISBN 13: 9781847492050
• Binding: Hardcover
• Language: English
• Number of pages: 160