The incisive satire of Jonathan Swift (1667-1745) in such works as Gulliver's Travels and A Tale of the Tub is well-known, but not his views on religion which he lambasted when "...things don't
square with the orthodox assertions of the religious tracts and sermons." Parker (a priest who formerly taught English at DePaul U.) introduces 9 essays that examine Swift writings in light of
his tenure as a priest in the Church of Ireland. Contributors treat his perspectives on debates of the times over which Church had true authority; the meaning of the spiritual in a
materialistic age; the relationship between literary and religious genres, and between contemporary religious, philosophical, and scientific discourse. Distributed by Associated University
Presses. Annotation 穢2009 Book News, Inc., Portland, OR (booknews.com)
