The political dilemma of Ireland; the state of faith in England; the charms of the Beggar’s Opera; the importance of puns . . . This selection gathers together some of Swift’s most brilliant prose, from high politics to social gossip, from savage tirades to lighthearted social satire. In addition to his classic essays, the collection includes several of Swift’s letters to Alexander Pope and other great thinkers of the age.

A new selection of works by Britain’s foremost prose satirist Easing 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 armory and corrosive wit, striking his targets-the ruling class and avaricious landlords-with deadly precision. This masterly essay is accompanied by a generous selection of prose works, among them humorous pamphlets critiquing British rule in his native Ireland, articles and correspondence, a loving eulogy to his beloved “Stella,” the daughter of a house servant whom he mentored, and pieces on such diverse subjects as the nature of broomsticks, the joys of punning, and comical rules for servants. For more than seventy years, Penguin has been the leading publisher of classic literature in the English-speaking world. With more than 1,700 titles, Penguin Classics represents a global bookshelf of the best works throughout history and across genres and disciplines. Readers trust the series to provide authoritative texts enhanced by introductions and notes by distinguished scholars and contemporary authors, as well as up-to-date translations by award-winning translators.