"Polite Conversation in Three Dialogues" is a book created by the legendary writer Jonathan Swift, credited for a strong influence on the formation of the English language. For example, the famous phrase "Raining cats and dogs" comes from his works, as well as many other expressions.
Swift's parodies are among his most fascinating works, but perhaps require most explication for the modern reader. Valerie Rumbold brings a new depth and detail to the editing of Swift's Bickerstaff papers, 'Polite Conversation', 'Directions to Servants' and other works on language and conduct. Highlights include a fresh investigation of the political and print contexts of the Bickerstaff papers, full commentaries on such smaller works as 'A Modest Defence of Punning' and 'On Barbarous Denominations in Ireland', identification and explanation of many additional sayings in 'Polite Conversation', and a detailed contextualisation of 'Directions to Servants' in contemporary domestic theory and practice. A substantial thematic Introduction is supplemented by an individual headnote and full annotation to each work. The Textual Introduction explores the publishing strategies adopted by Swift and his booksellers, and a separate Textual Account of each work presents and discusses changes in the texts over time.
Containing thirty-one lectures deliv-ered at the Fifth Münster Symposium on Jonathan Swift in May 2006, this volume testifies to the broad spectrum of research interests in the Dean of St Patrick's, Dublin, and his work. The essays have been grouped in nine sections: theoretical approaches (A. C. Elias, Jr, Melinda Rabb); bio-graphical problems (W. B. Carno-chan, João Fróes); bibliographical and textual studies (James E. May, Stephen Karian, James McLaverty); A Tale of a Tub (Marcus Walsh, Allan Ingram, Frank T. Boyle); historical, religious, and political issues (Sean Connolly, Ian Higgins, Howard D. Weinbrot, Toby C. Barnard, Valerie Rumbold); poetry (Clive T. Probyn, John Irwin Fischer, Dirk F. Passmann and Hermann J. Real; James Wool-ley); Swift and Ireland (Joseph McMinn, Sabine Baltes, Sean Moore); Gulliver's Travels (Ann C. Kelly, Serge Soupel, Clement Hawes, J. A. Downie); and Reception and Adapta-tion (Peter Sabor, Sabine Wendel, Flavio Gregory, Gabriella Hartvig, Michael Düring).