Do you recall Gulliver's Travels?
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Having recently reread the classic work Gulliver's Travels by Johnathan Swift, I have come to question its generally being held as a children's book. I certainly don't think Swift would be very enthused at its being categorized as such. Reasoning for my musings begin at the works overtly satirical nature. Swift uses tactful humor and subtle references to make attacks on both modern learning and of British and European Society of the early 1700's. First Published in 1726 the work remained controversial for some great time and was vastly censured.
So now why do we consider this masterful work of satire and insightful work of literature as a mere book of fantasy for children? Should it not instead be reviewed along with Swift's Modest Proposal in College Literature courses? I for one think it should sense it took me some time to decipher his meanings and, indeed, to look up some unfamiliar vocabulary. And I have no doubt that many jibs and inferences where lost upon me throughout the course of the work.
All in all, an interesting look back into history and well worth a reread if one has read it, and a first read for those who have ignored it as a mere imaginative tale of fantasy.
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