This account of the life and times of the celebrated author and satirist Jonathan Swift is a must-read for anyone interested in eighteenth-century literature and politics. In addition to providing a comprehensive overview of Swift's career, William Robert W. Wilde sheds new light on Swift's relationships with his contemporaries, including his longtime companion Esther Johnson (Stella). The appendix, which includes several of Swift's previously unpublished poems, is a treasure trove for admirers of the great writer. This work has been selected by scholars as being culturally important, and is part of the knowledge base of civilization as we know it. This work is in the "public domain in the United States of America, and possibly other nations. Within the United States, you may freely copy and distribute this work, as no entity (individual or corporate) has a copyright on the body of the work. Scholars believe, and we concur, that this work is important enough to be preserved, reproduced, and made generally available to the public. We appreciate your support of the preservation process, and thank you for being an important part of keeping this knowledge alive and relevant.