Jonathan Swift's Classic: A Modest Proposal (Annotated) with a Historical Introduction

By: Jonathan Swift

Narrated by: Audra Fontana

Length: 25 mins

Publisher's Summary

Unique to this title is:

• An Historical Introduction

You may of course skip the historical intro and go straight to the main title and come back later to the beginning as you wish.

Jonathan Swift was a 17th century Ango-Irish satirist, essayist, poet, and cleric. He was also a Dean of St. Patrick's Cathedral in Dublin.

Swift had a unique writing style which many still don't know what to think about. On the one hand, he is regarded as the best prose satirist in the English language, on the other, because of his provocative writing, some considered him a monster.

In 1729, Swift published A Modest Proposal for Preventing the Children of Poor People in Ireland Being a Burden on Their Parents or Country, and for Making Them Beneficial to the Publick known today as A Modest Proposal. 

In this satire, Swift grotesquely suggests how the poor could solve the problem of their numerous families which they are struggling to feed. 

Enjoy this timeless classic!

Public Domain (P)2019 Chronos Publishing

Different Listen

This was a very interesting, quick listen. The introduction and background really helped with comprehending the story.

Audra Fontana did a great job with the narration.

I received a copy of this audiobook at my request, and I have voluntarily left this review.

A Modest Proposal

I thoroughly enjoyed this version of A Modest Proposal. The reading was clear, concise and entertaining. Looking forward to hearing more from this narrator.

Wtf did I just read?

I received this book for free, but the review is left of my own accord.

Even as a short book (25 minutes) I was expecting the story itself to take up more time and less time being given to the background and introduction. It seemed pretty close to 50/50. Im grateful for the information, though. It did help put the ridiculous story into perspective.

But yea, wtf did I just read? Im gonna have to listen to this again to see if Swift is actually trying to make any sort of legitimate point or if the entire point of this story is just to be as over the top as possible.

Not my cup of tea

It's not my type of book but some might like it. Think just depends what your taste is.

OMG!!!

OMG

I had NO idea what this was about, I just saw the author.
Again OMG!

Talk about a look into the eyes if the past! This should be a must listen to!

A Bitingly Satirical Sollution for Ireland's Poor

This brutally biting satire by the great master has a dark undercurrent of despair at the plight of the Irish peasant in the 18th century. His argument is carefully thought out and argued with a master debater's attention to detail, logic and use of facts all employed in the proposal of a solution so horrific it should have shocked the reader into outraged action to find another solution ... and yet, like sacrificing grandparents for the good of the American economy in the COVID-19 crisis, I have no doubt it there were those among it's target audience who paused to consider whether toddlers would be better roasted or fried.
A work of classic literature I very much enjoyed.

Brilliant satire

Brilliant satire. I listened to this as an audiobook narrated by Audra Fontana. She did an excellent job narrating the story. The audiobook version comes with an historical introduction that I found very helpful in understanding the story. I received the audiobook free in exchange for an unbiased review.

Crazy times

I received this book for free at my request but the opinion is of my own. This book makes me feel it could be written today especially with everything that’s going on in the world. Some people are being turned away from services not just because of their economic background but also if the worth they might have to the economy. If young and healthy give them everything if not than they can sacrifice their lives. Crazy times than and now.

Wonderful

I’ve always liked Jonathan Swift especially Gulliver’s Travels. I had never heard or read A Modest Proposal. So I was pleasantly surprised to see this title on Audible.
Swift’s dry humor is socially relevant & very witty. Wonderfully read by Audra Fontana

Fantastic story read well

This is the second book I’ve read/listened to by this author and I would listen to another. I’ve never previously read this book and had no idea what it was about until listening. Fabulous!!

This is the first book I’ve listened to by this narrator ( Audra Fontana ) and I would listen to another. She read this book well. Her style gave me the feel of a very dry humorish, snobby air witch is kinds the point of this story.

There are no explicit sex scenes, excessive violence or swearing.??.

I was given this free review copy audiobook at my request and voluntarily left this unbiased review.
Please feel free to comment on whether you found my review helpful.