A Tale of a Tub
by Jonathan Swift
The Bathtub Tale was the first major work by Jonathan Swift, written between 1694 and 1697, and published in 1704. This is perhaps his hardest satire and perhaps his most virtuoso. The fairy tale is a prose parody divided into "retreat" and "fairy tales" sections of three brothers, each representing one of the main branches of Christianity. " "The Tale" offers a consistent satire on religious excess, while the deviations are a series of parodies of contemporary writing in literature, politics, theology, biblical exegesis, and medicine. It is a comprehensive parody of enthusiasm, pride, and purity. At the time of writing, politics and religion were still very closely related in the UK, and it is often difficult to separate the religious and political aspects of satire. The study was published anonymously, and Swift's cousin Thomas later claimed to have written it. It was extremely popular, but Swift believed this hurt her prospects for promotion in the Church of England.
