A Tale of a Tub and Related Pieces

This volume includes 'The Battle of the Books' and 'The Mechanical Operation of the Spirit' which accompanied 'A Tale of a Tub' on its first publication in 1704. 'A Tale of a Tub, ' the masterpiece of Swift's earlier years, is in many respects his most brilliant achievement, characterized in Dr. Johnson's words by 'a vehemence and rapidity of mind, a copiousness of images, and a vivacity of diction'.