A Tale of a Tub
Jonathan Swift
Read by Edmund Bloxam
A Tale of a Tub was the first major work written by Jonathan Swift, composed between 1694 and 1697, that was eventually published in 1704. It is arguably his most difficult satire, and perhaps his most masterly. The Tale is a prose parody which is divided into sections of "digression" and a "tale" of three brothers, each representing one of the main branches of western Christianity. A Tale was long regarded as a satire on religion itself, and has famously been attacked for that, starting with William Wotton. The "tale" presents a consistent satire of religious excess, while the digressions are a series of parodies of contemporary writing in literature, politics, theology, Biblical exegesis, and medicine. The overarching parody is of enthusiasm, pride, and credulity. At the time it was written, politics and religion were still linked very closely in England, and the religious and political aspects of the satire can often hardly be separated. "The work made Swift notorious, and was widely misunderstood, especially by Queen Anne herself who mistook its purpose for profanity." "It effectively disbarred its author from proper preferment within the church," but is considered one of Swift's best allegories, even by himself. It was enormously popular, but Swift believed it damaged his prospect of advancement in the Church of England. (Summary by Wikipedia) (4 hr 22 min)
Chapters
Introduction and Preface | 40:51 | Read by Edmund Bloxam |
Section 1 | 23:38 | Read by Edmund Bloxam |
Section 2 | 22:59 | Read by Edmund Bloxam |
Section 3 | 19:25 | Read by Edmund Bloxam |
Section 4 | 22:33 | Read by Edmund Bloxam |
Section 5 | 12:57 | Read by Edmund Bloxam |
Section 6 | 14:48 | Read by Edmund Bloxam |
Section 7 | 10:54 | Read by Edmund Bloxam |
Section 8 | 14:40 | Read by Edmund Bloxam |
Section 9 | 27:28 | Read by Edmund Bloxam |
Section 10 | 9:49 | Read by Edmund Bloxam |
Section 11 | 24:12 | Read by Edmund Bloxam |
Section 12 | 22:29 | Read by Edmund Bloxam |
Reviews
Bleh
Teen Reader
I don’t like the book very much and the reader sucks.
hello
good book Jonathan Swift is an excellent writer
Homophobic
Bill Cosby
Lacks awareness of 2SLGBTQTIA+ issues that are essence of what it means to be a human. The fact he failed to realize the importance of fighting for 2SLGBTQTIA+ persons means he is an evil Aldolf Hitler. Just because he lived at a time when nobody realized the essential nature of gender neutral bathrooms does not absolve him of our judgment and righteous condemnation