Ep 13: Gulliver’s Travels -- A Modern Masterpiece

Yeah, this was a little self-serving, Pranay, because this year is the 300th anniversary of one of my favorite books, Gulliver's Travels.

It was published first on October 28th, 1726 by Jonathan Swift, who is an Irish writer.

author.

And there's a lovely history to the book itself.

I have a very long personal history with this book.

I mean, I'm 42 years old, but I feel like I've had a history with this book for over 35 years, which makes it a little bit extra special.

Like the first time I read the book was, I must have been six, seven years old, I read one of those abridged classics, you know, those The ones that are about six inches by six inches.

There's an illustration on one side and like really large size 22 font or something on the other side.

And it was hilarious then because I mean, then you're laughing at different things, right? Like how Gulliver will sneeze and all the Lilliputians will go flying or, you know, how he's this tiny creature and an eagle picks him up or something.

So like those were the sorts of things that tickled my sense of humor as a kid.

And, you know, the abridged versions only have the first two parts of the book.

The book is in four parts.

He travels to multiple places, but the abridged versions only covered Lilliput and Brobdenand, which is the place where you have the really tiny people and you have the really large giants, right? And Gulliver stays the same size and changes perspective.

But it was only later, you know, probably when I was a teenager or even maybe in college when I read the unabridged version that I realized that there are more parts to the book, literally.

He goes to many other places.

And, you know, that gave the book a very different color.

And since then, I must have read that book...

I don't know, every three to four years, something makes me pick up and read the book.

Okay, the last time I read it during COVID, I think I've discussed it a little bit with Amit on one of the episodes that we've done.

So every time something completely different, you know, jumps out to me.

So what I'll start with maybe is just for those who, I think everyone's heard of the book.

Everyone thinks the book is a children's book.

And kind of like a funny children's tale.

But in one sense, it's very much like Animal Farm, right? You can read it as a children's book.

It's perfectly enjoyable.