Name: A Modest Proposal
ISBN: 9781947844469

Jonathan Swift

Jonathan Swift thought that England's anti-poverty proposals were so outrageously evil that nothing short of an absurd parody of them would suffice. His 'Modest Proposal' offers his own idea for addressing poverty in Ireland, presented with a completely straight face.

The Original 1729 Edition

A Modest Proposal

kyra

It is disappointing that a satirical essay written over 300 years ago is still dejectedly relevant today.

If Gen Z worked time travel out, this essay is something I could absolutely see them publish. In short: it is absolutely exaggerated, bordering on unthinkable what Swift proposes in terms of how to solve the problem of an incredibly impoverished Irish population as immediate after effect of exploitation of Ireland at the hands of England. Still, it is in the absurdness of it all, disguised by the tone of an economical treatise in terms of seriousness and tonality, where lies the thinly veiled criticism of a system and whole classes who forget about the humanity of others. The satirical aspect of this is unexpectedly taken to a level that no reader might have imagined and proves the point of a society that left the most vulnerable to die in poverty even if the means had been there to save them all along.

Very powerful piece of literature and the most impressive, satirical essay I’ve read of this period so far. Absolutely savage in every sense of the word.

Leonie

If Gen Z worked time travel out, this essay is something I could absolutely see them publish. In short: it is absolutely exaggerated, bordering on unthinkable what Swift proposes in terms of how to solve the problem of an incredibly impoverished Irish population as immediate after effect of exploitation of Ireland at the hands of England. Still, it is in the absurdness of it all, disguised by the tone of an economical treatise in terms of seriousness and tonality, where lies the thinly veiled criticism of a system and whole classes who forget about the humanity of others. The satirical aspect of this is unexpectedly taken to a level that no reader might have imagined and proves the point of a society that left the most vulnerable to die in poverty even if the means had been there to save them all along.

Very powerful piece of literature and the most impressive, satirical essay I’ve read of this period so far. Absolutely savage in every sense of the word.

Maria Elkoro-Iribe

Aditi

Aditi Verma

marie-ange

absolutely hilarious. read it for yourself, you’ll love it

Georgia Carr

I have to admit, I started reading this and the only thing going through my head was, "What the *beep*?!" 

And then I realized what was actually going on. And then it got good, and funny, and it became an interesting take on the times and the feelings of the Irish people, with some added humor because why not?

doxi 

amy 

Ville

Riley

Emily McMeans

A Modest Proposal Jonathan Swift - To ease poverty in Ireland by eating the children of the poor was the satirical 'solution' suggested by Jonathan Swift in his essay 'A Modest Proposal' (1729). Here Swift unleashes the full power of his ironic armoury and corrosive wit, finding his targets - the British ruling class and avaricious landlords, and the brutalized Irish, complicit in their own oppression - with deadly precision.

A Modest Proposal The Original 1729 Edition