Well, here I am in sunny Perth, Australia. It has been eight weeks since I left the cold wet shores of Ireland, and made a break for a life change. Things have been a wee bit slow, and bewildering, on that front. I am quickly discovering I'm not the strong optimistic type. I think I need to watch Julia Roberts in that Erin Brockevich role again. I need a dose of 'strong woman' medicine.

On the positive side, waiting for that perfect employment has allowed me ample reading time. My only difficulty is no easy access to a computer. Today, I have imposed on an Aussie friend......cheers Greg! Now, I haven't done this in a while and I fear that my spelling and grammar may have rusted a little, but here goes nothing.....

Ironically, my first book to be reviewed from here is the highly enjoyable biography of Jonathan Swift by Victoria Glendinning. Swift is the author of a wide range of work, including the ever popular classic, 'Gulliver's Travels'. He lived from 1667 until 1745, and has played his own definite part in the political and literary history, of both Ireland and England.

His life is certainly worthy of a book. If you have any interest in the early Irish/English history, that encompasses religion, politics, society - and naturally - literature, this is the perfect read for you. Swift may well have been the first 'spin-doctor' ever. He was the publicist and propagandist for Queen Anne and her ministers.

Later on, he was to become the legendary Dean of St.Patrick's Cathedral in Dublin. However, all the while he only wanted, and waited for a church in England. This dream of his was never realised, and he lived an unsettled life, constantly in transit between Ireland and England. He was known to his enemies as the ordained clergy man, who didn't believe in God.

His public life is a brilliant insight into those turbulent times. Swift had an ambiguous relationship with Ireland. He loathed it as the mere subsitute for his true desire. At the same time, some of his most brilliant and satirical writings were in direct response to the extreme poverty and deprivation of the Irish poor. In fact, I personally recommend his 'A Modest Proposal' as a fine example of his biting satire. And bear in mind, that certain people in England were taken in by this essay, and thought it a very good solution to the problem in hand.

We also get to meet the great poet, Alexander Pope, within the pages of this biography. He and Swift shared a rich and rewarding letter-writing relationship. They even plotted together, along with lesser known poet John Gay, some of the threads which would later become 'Gulliver's Travels'.

And then, to top the historical and literary aspects of this biography......there are the WOMEN. Don't you agree, that women always make a man's life just that bit more interesting??? Glendinning introduces us to Vanessa and Stella. These two women, who may or may not have met, both followed Swift to Ireland to be near him......when he allowed them. This aspect of the biography is an intriguing read. Glendinning relishes in her role as detective as she tackles the mystery surrounding Swift's possible marriage to Stella. There is also the claim that Swift may have actually had intercourse with Vanessa, and used the term 'drinking coffee' to describe 'the act'. Indeed his many letters to Vanessa are filled with references to missing her coffee, and so forth.

There are many layers to this enjoyable read. Glendinning would certainly be my biographer choice, if I ever needed one! She ably draws the reader in to her well researched world of Swift. Her passion and curiosity about her subject translates well on to the page. Her book is nicely filled with excerpts from diaries, letters and poetry. Actually, it would be a practical aid for the literary student, as well as standing alone for the purely interested reader. It proves to be a thorough look at his better known works, and the anxious, eager student of Jonathan Swift would do well to read it!!

In her preface, she tells us the most frequently asked question of a biographical writer; 'do you like him?'. She doesn't give a simple yea or neigh, but does assure the reader that 'in keeping company with Jonathan Swift you are not wasting your time'. And I concur. Her biography is an absorbing read, from beginning to end. I, especially, loved the bits where she intervenes as Victoria Glendinning, a woman writing a book about the infamous Jonanthan Swift. For example, her first sentence reads;

'I am sitting in the Manuscripts Room of Trinity College Library in Dublin, transfixed by a fragment of autobiography written by the author of Gulliver's Travels - the Dean of St. Patrick's, Dr.Jonathan Swift'.

She had me hooked from then on in.



Recommended: No