300 Years of Gulliver’s Travels
Frontispiece of Dutch translation, Gullivers reizen naar Liliput en andere vreemde landen. Leiden: D. Noothoven van Goor, 1872. (A8187)
Written by Irish author, Jonathan Swift (1667-1745), it was printed in two volumes by Benjamin Motte, London.
Gulliver’s Travels was an immediate success, and this popularity has continued over its 300-year long history. Not only has it been translated into dozens of languages, but it has never been out of print.
The National Library of Ireland holds many copies of this important and influential work, from the first to contemporary editions. We continue to add to our holdings, to make this iconic work available to all our readers.
Engraving of Lemuel Gulliver from Travels into several remote nations of the world by Jonathan Swift. London: printed for Benjamin Motte, 1726. (LO Swift 374)
Translations
Gulliver’s Travels, or to give its title on publication, Travels into Several Remote Nations of the World, is the most translated work written by an Irish author.
First translated into French in 1727, other European language editions quickly appeared in print. Some translated editions in our collection include Dutch, German, Spanish, Lithuanian and Irish.
The book pictured below is a beautiful Swedish edition from 1772. Interestingly, this translation was not made from the original English language edition, but rather from a French translation of the work.
Engraving of the Houyhnhnms from Capitain Lemuel Gullivers resor. 2nd ed. Wasteras, 1772. (LO 3685)
Illustrations
Gulliver’s Travels has provided inspiration to many illustrators, with charming and captivating images often accompanying the text. In our collections we hold editions illustrated by well-known artists including, Arthur Rackham, Fritz Eichenberg, Milo Winters and Willy Pogány.
While Gulliver’s Travels is a sophisticated satire on the relationship between subjects and rulers, it has had parallel success as an imaginative work for all ages. This French children’s edition was illustrated by Hippolyte Pauquet (1797-1871) who, along with his brother Polydore, was a well-known natural history illustrator.
Le Gulliver des enfants, illustrated by Hippolyte Louis Émile Pauquet. Paris: Amédée Bédelet, [1846–1851]. (LO 722)
There are also several twentieth century illustrated editions in the collection. The edition pictured was published by the Philadelphia based publishing house, J.B. Lippincott, and illustrated by the American artist, Maria Louise Kirk (1860 – 1938), who worked chiefly on children’s books.
Gulliver's travels: a voyage to Lilliput, a voyage to Brobdingnag. Philadelphia; London: J.B. Lippincott, 1918. Illustrations by Maria L. Kirk (1860-1938). (A4055)
Another twentieth century illustrated edition comes from the renowned British book illustrator, Arthur Rackham (1867 – 1939). Using his unique style, this lavishly produced edition of Gulliver’s Travels, includes a pictorial binding, decorated lining papers and 12 full page colour plates.
Gulliver's travels into several remote nations of the world. London, New York, J.M. Dent & Co.; 1909. Illustrations by Arthur Rackham (1867-1939). (A9426)
Retellings
Almost as we have ‘fan fiction’ today, there were many sequels and retellings of this great work following its publication, some of which we have in the collection at the National Library of Ireland.
One of the earliest is Memoirs of the Court of Lilliput with appeared in 1727. Published anonymously, it focuses on Gulliver’s time in Lilliput and includes gossip, intrigue and scandal from the Court.
Memoirs of the Court of Lilliput, by Captain Gulliver, published by Lucas Bennet. Dublin: S. P., 1727. (LO Swift 255)
In the same year, an unauthorised volume III of Gulliver’s Travels was published. This work was both a forgery and a continuation, as the author attempted to replicate Swift’s voice and also plagiarised another book, Denis Vairasse’s Histoire des Sevarambes (1675). Although this book has been criticised as a poor imitation of Swift’s great work, it was very successful in its day and went on to be translated into several languages.
Title page and frontispiece of Travels into several remote nations of the world. By Capt. Lemuel Gulliver. Vol.III. London: Printed in the year, 1727. (LO Swift 288)
During its 300 years, Gulliver’s Travels has been abridged, expanded, translated and illustrated. It has enduring appeal not only as a political satire, but also as a beloved children’s book, reaching new audiences with every generation. With such a legacy, Gulliver will continue to charm, entertain and educate for centuries to come.
Tuilleadh
