Gulliver's Travels (AmazonClassics Edition)

Lemuel Gulliver, English surgeon turned ship captain, embarks on four fantastic voyages, each a clash with strange beings and cultures―from the eccentric to the odious. Island by island, he meets the savage but tiny Lilliputians, the hideous Yahoos, a stable of talking horses, a race of decrepit immortals, and the ghosts of Julius Caesar and Homer.

A parody of the popular seafaring narratives of his time, a harsh judgment against inherently corrupt human nature, and a satire of the ways of England, Swift’s masterpiece was written “to vex the world rather than divert it.” For generations, it has inspired it.

AmazonClassics brings you timeless works from the masters of storytelling. Ideal for anyone who wants to read a great work for the first time or rediscover an old favorite, these new editions open the door to literature’s most unforgettable characters and beloved worlds.

Revised edition: Previously published as Gulliver’s Travels, this edition of Gulliver’s Travels (AmazonClassics Edition) includes editorial revisions.

Born in Dublin, Ireland, Jonathan Swift (1664–1745) was a cleric, poet, editor, political activist, essayist, satirist, and the notable author of Gulliver’s Travels and A Modest Proposal.

Raised by his influential uncle, Swift received a doctor of divinity degree from Trinity College, Dublin, before moving to England. As a newspaper editor, he championed the political philosophy of the Tory government, which touted traditionalism and social order. After the fall of the Tories, Swift returned to Ireland, where his continued activism was both ferocious and unwelcome. Swift channeled his fury and disillusionment into his writing. His epic work of political and social satire, known today as Gulliver’s Travels, established Swift as the foremost prose satirist in the English language.