Gulliver's Travels

This classic satirical novel, written by Jonathan Swift and first published in 1726, is an awesome adventure that has made Gulliver's Travels a favorite book of readers for over 250 years.

Lemuel Gulliver is a kind English surgeon longing for adventure. He gets a lot more than he bargained for when he signs on board a sailing ship and a shipwreck leaves him swept ashore. He embarks on four remarkable voyages, each leading to strange beings and cultures. Portrayed both as an observer and a victim of circumstance, Gulliver solves problems, starts and ends wars, and gets in and out of one difficulty after another.

He first finds himself on Lilliput, an island inhabited by people six inches high and constantly bickering, who are as astounded by his size as he is by theirs. Brobdingnag is a land of giants where he is exhibited as a curiosity at local fairs. On the flying island of Laputa, a world of illusion and distorted values, people plot and plan as their country lies in ruins. The last island, Houyhnhnm is dominated by a stable of gentle talking horses who rule the land and he meets the hideous Yahoos, filthy bestial creatures who resemble humans.

For adults, Swift has written a detailed and witty parody of the manners and morals of 18th-century England, attacking both political and financial corruption. For children, it remains an enchanting fantasy, literature's most unforgettable characters and beloved worlds. This classic is considered a satirical masterpiece beloved by all ages.