Jonathan Swift and the Arts

McMinn (Anglo-Irish studies, U. of Ulster, Ireland) challenges the view held b Jonathan Swift's biographer, Irvin Ehrenpreis, that Swift ignored most artistic and cultural activities outside literature, and argues that although he was no lover of the arts, he was engaged with artistic activities in Ireland and England in the areas of music, gardening, theater, architecture, and painting, demonstrating how these inspired his prose, poetry, and correspondence. Parts of the book were previously published in different versions. Distributed by Associated University Presses. Annotation 穢2010 Book News, Inc., Portland, OR (booknews.com)