description: First published in 1726, this classic work of satire presents a world gone haywire, where humans, despite their pomposity and grandiose illusions, are no better than weak and helpless fools. Lemuel Gulliver's journeys take him to Lilliput, a country whose inhabitants are no more than six inches tall; to Brobdingnag, a land of giants; to Laputa, a flying island inhabited by absent-minded people; and to the land of Houyhnhnms, where horselike creatures rule with intelligence and courtesy over repulsive humanlike Yahoos. One of literature's lasting legacies, Swift's trenchant cautionary tale is a witty, allegorical depiction of people at their worst; yet it may also be read as an enchanting, playful children's story with universal appeal.
language: English
title: Gulliver's Travels
titlecomplete: Gulliver's Travels
characters: Lemuel Gulliver
genres: Literature, British Literature, Classics, School, Adventure, Novels, 18th Century, Fiction, Fantasy, Classic Literature
ratings_count: 267766
places: Brobdingnag, Lilliput
publisher: W.W. Norton & Company