A Tale of a Tub. Written for the Universal Improvement of Mankind. To which is added an Account of a Battel between the Ancient and Modern Books in St. James Library. Explanatory Notes, by W. Wotton & Others. London: Thomas Tegg, 1811. Contemporary full diced calf, spine compartments embellished in gilt; covers scuffed & worn, a few scattered spots to contents pages in very good condition.

A notable reprint of Jonathan Swift’s famous satirical work. Illustrated with a frontispiece & six coloured plates in the text.

Swift’s A Tale of a Tub is a complex satire on religion, politics, and learning. It uses the allegory of three brothers (representing the main branches of Christianity) to critique religious extremism and hypocrisy. The Battle of the Books is a lighter, mock-heroic debate between ancient and modern literature and learning.

W. Wotton was a contemporary of Swift and a participant in the intellectual debates of the time. His notes provide context and commentary on Swift’s work.