Thus,gentleReader,IhavegiventheeafaithfulHistoryofmyTravelsforSixteenYears,andaboveSevenMonths;whereinIhavenotbeensostudiousofOrnamentasofTruth.’InthesewordsGulliverrepresentshimselfasareliablereporterofthefantasticadventureshehasjustsetdown;buthowfarcanwerelyonanarratorwhoseidentityiselusiveandwhosesinventivenessisself-evident?Gulliver’sTravelspurportstobeatravelbook,anddescribesGulliver’sencounterswiththeinhabitantsoffourextraordinaryplaces:Lilliput,Brobdingnag,Laputa,andthecountryoftheHouyhnhnms.AconsummatelyskilfulblendoffantasyandrealismmakesGulliver’sTravelsbyturnshilarious,frightening,andprofound.Swiftplaystricksonus,anddeliversoneoftheworld’smostdisturbingsatiresofthehumancondition.ThisneweditionincludesthechangingfrontispieceportraitsofGulliverthatappearedinsuccessiveearlyeditions.
