Saed News: The book Gulliver's Travels is one of the greatest narrative titles in history. Jonathan Swift, the great Irish writer, in this unforgettable masterpiece, depicts the daring and famous adventures of a sailor who embarks on a journey to strange and unknown lands aboard his ship.
About the Book Gulliver's Travels
Which of us is not familiar with Gulliver's Travels? Which of us does not have memories of the adventures of the mad and stubborn hero of this classic novel? Which of us has not, at some point, wandered in the mythical lands described in this work in our imagination? Truly, which of us?
Gulliver's Travels, a unique masterpiece by Jonathan Swift, the famous satirist of English literature, was first published in 1726, during an era when the genre of the novel was still in its early stages. It was a time when terms like "dystopia," "fantasy," and "science fiction" had not yet entered the common lexicon. Yes, it was in such an era that this astonishing masterpiece in the fantasy genre, a brilliant novel far ahead of its time, was created.
In Gulliver's Travels, Swift critiques the individual and social wrongs of his time through the narrative of a humorous and fictional tale. He masterfully uses satire and ridicule as weapons to combat the enemies of vitality, free thought, and enlightenment. The imaginary lands that Swift created in the novel are simply mirrors of the world in which the author lived. If in the behavior and thought of the people in these imaginary lands, we often encounter ignorance, superstition, bigotry, and dogmatism, it is because the creator of these lands saw all these moral and behavioral impurities in his contemporaries. Today, we read Gulliver's Travels with a smile, and we are deeply entertained by each line. However, we must not forget that the laughter we experience by reading this work has come at the cost of the constant struggles of its brilliant creator...
The hero of Gulliver's Travels is a bold and fearless sailor named Lemuel Gulliver. The story begins when Gulliver’s ship, during one of his most perilous sea voyages, is severely damaged and eventually sinks into the depths of the sea. By a stroke of luck, Gulliver survives and manages to reach a safe shore. However, when he awakens from a long sleep on this shore, he finds himself captured by a people known as the "Lilliputians," strange creatures whose height is no more than a few inches! To the Lilliputians, Gulliver is a giant, as though he has come from the world of legends. On the other hand, to Gulliver, the Lilliputians appear as imaginary beings. But we know that both the Lilliputians and Gulliver belong equally to the real world. Yes, we know that what happens throughout the story is not the fantasy of a money-hungry sailor!
Gulliver somehow manages to escape from the clutches of the Lilliputians. But if you think this is the end of his adventure, you are gravely mistaken! There are still many imaginary lands to which Gulliver will travel. So, let’s hope that the next captors of Gulliver are not giants towering over him, for escaping from them would not be as easy!
There are many Persian translations of Gulliver's Travels, and the version published by Ofogh Press, currently in front of you, is the product of Sepideh Khalili’s efforts.
Adaptations of Gulliver's Travels
Like most literary masterpieces of the world, Gulliver's Travels has inspired various works in the arts. Below are three prominent films based on Jonathan Swift’s enduring novel:
Gulliver's Travels (2010), directed by Peter R. Hunt
Gulliver's Travels (1939), directed by Dave Fleischer
Gulliver's Travels (1977), directed by Ralph Bakshi
Honors of Gulliver's Travels
One of the best-selling fiction titles worldwide
Ranked among the top English-language novels by The Guardian
Praise for Gulliver's Travels
No writer has made such profound use of the possibilities within language to create fresh metaphors and symbols as Jonathan Swift. Undoubtedly, Swift is one of the most brilliant writers in British literature, and his masterpiece, Gulliver's Travels, is one of the most remarkable literary works of all time. (Adam Smith)
Gulliver's Travels is one of the peerless masterpieces of world literature. (Book Review Circle)
A brilliant blend of adventure, philosophy, and humor. (Barnes & Noble)
An unforgettable and unparalleled satire. (Amazon)
Who Should Read Gulliver's Travels?
Teenagers interested in adventurous works, fans of fantasy stories, and lovers of satirical literature are the primary audience for Jonathan Swift’s Gulliver's Travels.
Excerpt from Gulliver's Travels
Lilliput is a royal country. Understanding their language was not easy, not only because of their melodic and strange words, but also because they spoke so very slowly. This was, of course, due to their small stature. Their voices were so faint that even when a minister gave a speech in the grand city square, or a general rambled on, all I could hear was murmurs. Similarly, when the sound of bells and the music of a parade became loud, it wasn’t very noisy. For our large ears, these sounds were not much.
While I was lying in the vast plain, in an hour, they constructed a tall scaffold beside my right ear. Then a bearded man, whom I thought was important, climbed the scaffold and began speaking. I could hear his squeak, but what good was it? I couldn’t understand his words! So, when his squeaking stopped, I shouted with all my might, "I am dying of hunger!"
He was startled and covered his ears. When I said, "Your Excellency, I am thirsty!" the scaffold he was standing on shook like a ship's sail in the face of a strong wind. I pointed to my mouth with my left hand and moved my cheeks up and down. He understood what I wanted and slowly shook his head. He bent over the scaffold, clapped his tiny hands, and issued his command with his squeaky voice.
Everything happened in the blink of an eye. They stood in line one after another, like a thin thread. They had prepared everything. It was my luck because I had not eaten or drunk anything for a whole day...
About the Author of Gulliver's Travels
Jonathan Swift (1667–1745) was a genius of English literature. His works are famous for their rich and brilliant language, unforgettable scenes, and, of course, their sharp critical edge. Swift was one of the strongest critics of the church and a serious opponent of traditionalism in art. He was one of the first English-language writers to use satire as a weapon against narrow-mindedness.Swift's works have had a profound impact on most of the major literary movements in English literature in the 18th, 19th, and 20th centuries. This influence is so clear and undeniable that even critics of Swift’s political and social views (including George Orwell) have had no choice but to acknowledge it.
Some of Swift’s notable works include Gulliver's Travels, A Tale of a Tub, Notes to Stella, The Battle of the Books, and A Modest Proposal.
