Jonathan Swift's Gulliver's Travels Celebrates 300th Anniversary
In 1726, after the publication of Gulliver's Travels, Jonathan Swift wrote to his friend Alexander Pope that an Irish bishop had declared he did not believe a word of the story. Some scholars now suggest that bishop may have been a fictional character invented by Swift, as he appears only in Swift's letter. The first edition of 1726 was followed by a revised 1735 edition by publisher Faulkner, included as the third volume of Swift's works, with additions including a letter from Captain Gulliver to his cousin Sympson. The 300th anniversary of the original publication is being marked.
Key facts
- Gulliver's Travels was first published in 1726.
- Jonathan Swift wrote to Alexander Pope about an Irish bishop who doubted the book's authenticity.
- The Irish bishop may be a fictional figure, appearing only in Swift's letter.
- A revised edition was published in 1735 by Faulkner.
- The 1735 edition included a letter from Gulliver to his cousin Sympson.
- The 300th anniversary of the original publication is in 2026.
Entities
Artists
- Jonathan Swift
- Alexander Pope
- Lemuel Gulliver
Institutions
- Faulkner
Locations
- Ireland