Jonathan Swift (1667-1745)

Jonathan Swift, the famous English writer, was born in a poor family in Dublin, Ireland, in 1667. His father died some months before Jonathan was born. His mother had to find work in England, so she left Jonathan with his uncle’s family. Jonathan lived with his uncle and studied very hard at school. He was a clever boy and learned many things quickly. Later, his uncle sent him to Dublin University to continue his studies.

After finishing university, Jonathan Swift went to England in 1689. There he found work as a secretary to a well-known writer. At the same time, Swift began to write articles for newspapers. He wrote about many problems in society because he wanted the Irish people to be happy and free. His articles were strong and sometimes funny, but they made people think about important problems.

Soon Jonathan Swift began to write satirical novels. A satire is a story that uses humor and imagination to criticize people or society. In 1726, he wrote his most famous novel, “Gulliver’s Travels”. This book is a satirical novel about England in his time. It tells the story of a man, Lemuel Gulliver, who travels to different strange countries. The book is full of clever ideas and funny situations. People liked the book not only in England and Ireland but also in other countries. It is still popular today and is read by children and adults all over the world.