When Was Gulliver’s Travels Written? Exploring the Timing of Jonathan Swift’s Writing

Introduction

Jonathan Swift is one of the most famous authors in English literature. He is best known for his satirical novel Gulliver’s Travels, which has been read and studied by countless readers since its initial publication in 1726. But when was Gulliver’s Travels written? The goal of this article is to explore the timing of Jonathan Swift’s writing of Gulliver’s Travels and to look at the date when it was published.

Exploring the Timing of Jonathan Swift’s Writing of Gulliver’s Travels

When did Jonathan Swift begin writing Gulliver’s Travels? According to a letter from Swift to Alexander Pope dated October 13th, 1724, Swift had already begun working on the book at that time. In the letter, he tells Pope “I am now busy upon a new work, which I design for the entertainment of the publick next winter.” This evidence suggests that Swift began writing Gulliver’s Travels in late 1724.

Examining the timeframe of Gulliver’s Travels further reveals that it was likely completed in early 1725. In a letter to Henry St. John, Viscount Bolingbroke, dated March 22nd, 1725, Swift mentions that he had recently finished the manuscript of Gulliver’s Travels. This implies that Swift likely completed the writing of Gulliver’s Travels by the beginning of 1725.

A Look at the Date When Gulliver’s Travels Was Published

Investigating the year Gulliver’s Travels was written shows that the book was published in 1726. The original edition of Gulliver’s Travels was printed in London by Benjamin Motte in October 1726. However, Swift had some difficulty finding a publisher for the book. According to biographer John Forster, Swift encountered resistance from publishers who were concerned about the political implications of the text. Eventually, Swift was able to secure a publisher for the book and it was released in October 1726.

The history behind the writing and publication of Gulliver’s Travels further reveals the challenges Swift faced in getting the book published. As mentioned above, there were many publishers who were hesitant to take on the project due to the political nature of the text. Additionally, Swift had to negotiate with various printers to make sure the book was properly produced. Despite these difficulties, Gulliver’s Travels was eventually published in 1726 and became an instant success.

Conclusion

In summary, this article has explored when Jonathan Swift wrote Gulliver’s Travels and the date when it was published. Evidence suggests that Swift began writing the book in late 1724 and completed it in early 1725. The book was eventually published in October 1726 after Swift encountered resistance from publishers who were concerned about the political implications of the text. Ultimately, Gulliver’s Travels was a great success and has become a classic of English literature.