Page 5 - Gullivers

The essays which follow offer several valuable insights to readers new and old. The first, by Ian Campbell Ross, sets the scene. He explores Dublin as it was
in Swist’s time, and the way in which the writer interacted with the city of his birth. Andrew Carpenter, in his contribution, proposes taking a copy of Gulliver’s Travels to a desert island for sustenance in the absence of all other literary fare. Mary Shine Thompson puts herself in the shœs of John Gulliver, looking at
his father’s travels with some scepticism and expressing dissatisfaction with the treatment of children in the narratives. Both Valerie Coghlan and Celia Keenan examine the evocative illustrations which have accompanied various editions of the text, the first appraising early styles of illustration and the second honing in on the most recent retelling, illustrated by Chris Riddell. Máire Kennedy looks at some of the early editions of Gulliver, highlighting treasured editions to be found in the collections of Dublin City Public Libraries. Finally, Eibhlín Evans outlines the influence of Swist’s humour and his approach to satire on Anglo- Irish writing. In all, we find a broad spectrum of Swistian readers who delight in sharing a love of Gulliver’s Travels. The colourful illustrations which accompany the text give a flavour of the diversity, ingenuity and beauty that characterise the many different artistic visions of Swist’s enduring satire.