A tale of a tub
Subtitle: Written for the universal improvement of mankind. To which is added, an account of a battel between the antient and modern books in St. James's library
By: Jonathon Swift.
Edition: The fifth edition: with the author's apology and explanatory notes. By W. W--tt--n, B.D. and others.
Series: Library of English literature -- LEL 12133.
Publisher: Printed for John Nutt
Published: 1710
Place of publication: London
Language: eng
Format: Microform
Number of pages: 344
Other titles: Battle of the books; Mechanical operation of the spirit
Notes: Pages 197 and 233 misnumbered "297" and "133" respectively.

Double line borders on title and special title pages.

"A full and true account of the battel fought last Friday, between the antient and the modern books in St. James's library" and "A discourse concerning the mechanical operation of the spirit. In a letter to a friend. A fragment" each has special title page.

"The epistle dedicatory, to His Royal Highness Prince Posterity": p. [1]-12.

"Contains the Apology, the footnotes, and 8 plates for the first time. The unsigned footnotes are by Swift."--Cambridge bibliography of English literature.

Written following the censure by W. Wotton and R. Bentley of W. Temple's "Ancient and modern learning," a theme then being debated in Paris by Fontenelle and others, in England by Bentley and C. Boyle. cf. Oxford companion to English literature; Dictionary of national biography.

"The authorship, never seriously doubted, was assumed by Swift in a letter to his publisher Tooke (29 June 1710) ... Curll, in a 'Key', had insinuated that Thomas Swift, Jonathan's cousin, who had been chaplain at Moor Park, was the chief author. Wotton, in his 'Defence' of his 'Reflections,' also calls Thomas the editor. Swift, in writing to ... Tooke, makes some contemptuous references to his 'little parson cousin,' whom he guesses to have been an accomplice in this."--Dictionary of national biography.

Microfiche. Chicago, Ill. : Library Resources, inc., 1976. 1 sheet of microfiche : positive ; 8 x 13 cm. (Library of English literature ; LEL 12133)

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