Contents of the book
Compiled by Lee Jaffe jaffe@scruznet.com
Part I: A voyage to Lilliput.
In this first part, the Author gives some
Account of himself and family and his first inducements to travel. He is
shipwrecked, and swims for his Life. After this, he gets safe on Shoar in the
Country of Lilliput where he is made a Prisoner, and carry'd up the Country.
After these facts, the Emperor of Lilliput,
whose person and habits are described, attended by several of the Nobility,
comes to see the Author in his confinement. He appoints some men to teach the
Author their language. He gains favour by his mild disposition. His pockets are
searched, and his sword and pistols taken from him.
The Author entertains the Emperor and his
Nobility of both Sexes in a very uncommon way, and the Author has his liberty
granted upon certain Conditions.
Milendo, the metropolis of Lilliput, is
described together with the Emperor's Palace. The Author talks to a main
Secretary about the Affairs of that Empire, and the Author offers himself to
serve the Emperor in his Wars.
The Author, by an extraordinary stratagem, prevents an
invasion. A high Title of Honour is conferred upon him. Ambassadors arrive from
the Emperor Blefuscu, and sue for Peace. The Empress's Apartment gets on fire
by an Accident; the Author tries to save the rest of the Palace.
Here we have a good description of the
inhabitants of Lilliput; their learning, Laws, and customs; the way of
educating their children; the Author's way of living in that country; his
vindication of a great Lady, etc.
The Author, being informed of a design to
accuse him of High Treason, runs away to Blefuscu.
The Author, by a lucky accident, finds
means to leave Blefuscu; and, after some difficulties, returns safe to his
native country.
Part II: a voyage to Brobdingnag.
This part begins with the description of a
great storm. The long Boat is sent to fetch water, and the Author goes with it
to discover the country. He is left on Shoar, is seized by one of the natives,
and carried to a farmer's house. Here we have a description of the inhabitants
and also of the farmer’s daughter.
The Author is carried to a Market Town, and
then to the Metropolis. We can read here some particulars of his Journey.
After this, the Author is sent to court. The Queen buys him of his
master, and presents him to the King. He disputes with his Majesty's great
Scholars. A flat at court is provided for the Author (He is in high favour with
the Queen.) He stands up for the honour of his own country. Here begins his
quarrels with the Queen's 
dwarf.
The country, the chief temple and the
Author’s way of travelling is described. Someone makes a proposal for
correcting modern maps, the King's Palace and some accounts of the metropolis.
After these pages, the Author describes
several adventures that happened to himself.
A criminal is executed, and the Author shows his skill in navigation.
The Author makes several contrivances of to
please the King and Queen. He shows his skill in music, and The King inquires
into the State of Europe, which the Author relates to him.
The Author shows his love of his country.
He makes a proposal of much advantage to the King, which is rejected. The King
shows his great ignorance in politics, their Laws and military affairs and
parties in the State.
Then, the King and Queen make a progress to
the frontiers. The Author attends them. The way that he leaves the country is
very particularly related. He returns to England.
Part III: a
voyage to Laputa, Balnibarbi, Luggnagg, Glubbdubdrib,and Japan.
The Author sets out on his third voyage, in
which pirates take him. He arrives in an Island (Laputa), where he is received.
The humours and dispositions of the
Laputians and an account of their learning are described, as well as the King
and his Court. The Author's Reception is made there. The inhabitants subject to
fears and disquietudes. Women are accounted.
Modern Philosophy and Astronomy solve a
phenomenon. The Laputians' great improvements are shown latter, while The
King's method of suppressing insurrections is described.
The Author leaves Laputa, is conveyed to
Balnibarbi and arrives at the Metropolis. The Metropolis and the Country
adjoining are described. A great Lord, whom with he talks, hospitably receives
the Author.
The Author is allowed to see the grand Academy of
Lagado, which is largely described. The Arts wherein the Professors employ
themselves.
Here we can find a further account of the
Academy. The Author proposed some Improvements, which are honourably received.
The Author leaves Lagado, arrives at
Maldonada, but there is no ship ready. He takes a short voyage to Glubbdubdrib.
The Governor receives him.
After this chapter, we find a further
account of Glubbdubdrib. Antient and Modern History are corrected.
The Author returns to Maldonada and sails
to the Kingdom of Luggnagg, where he is confined and sent to Court. He is
admitted, and The King shows his great lenity to his subjects.
The Luggnaggians are commended. A
particular description of the Struldbrugs, with many Conversations between the
Author and some eminent Persons upon that Subject is given in these pages.
The Author leaves Luggnagg and sails to
Japan. From there he returns in a Dutch ship to Amsterdam, and from Amsterdam to
England.
Part IV:
a voyage to the country of the
Houyhnhnms.
The Author is set out as the Captain of a
ship. His men conspire against him, confine him a long time to his cabin and
set him on Shore in an unknown land. He travels up into the country. The
Yahoos, strange sorts of animal are described. The Author meets two Houyhnhnms.
The Author is conduced by a Houyhnhmn to
his house, which is described. The Author is received and given some food.
He tries to learn the Language, the
Houyhnhmn, and his Master assists in teaching him. The Language is described.
Several Houyhnhnms of quality come out of curiosity to see the Author, who
gives his master a short account of his voyage.
The Houyhnhnms notion of truth and
falsehood is explained. The Author's discourse is disapproved by his master. He
gives a more particular account of himself, and the accidents of his voyage.
The Author, at his master's command,
informs him of the state of England and the reasons of war among the princess
of Europe. The Author begins to explain the English Constitution.
. A continuation of the state of England.
The 
character of a first Minister appears.
The Author's great love of his native
country is described. His master makes some observations upon the Constitution
and Administration of England, as described by the Author, with parallel cases
and comparisons and upon human Nature.
. The Author relates several particulars of
the Yahoos and the great virtues of the Houyhnhnms, the education and exercises
of their youth, their general Assembly…
Here we can find the Grand Debate at the
General Assembly of the Houyhnhnms and how it was determined; the learning of
the Houyhnhnms, their buildings, their way of burials, the defectiveness of
their language…
The Author's economy, and happy Life among
the Houyhnhnms is described in these pages, as well as his great improvement in
virtue, by conversing with them. The Author is given by his Master a news that
he must depart from the Country. He falls into a swoon for grief, but submits.
He contrives and finishes a canoe, with the help of a fellow servant, and puts
to sea at a venture.
The Author describes his dangerous voyage.
He arrives at New-Holland, hoping to settle there. He is wounded with an arrow
by one of the natives and seized and carried by force into a Portuguese ship.
The Author arrives in England.
The Author states his design in publishing
this work with his censure of those travellers who swerve from the truth. The
Author clears himself from any sinister end in writing. An objection answered.
The way of planting colonies. His native country commended because the Right of
the Crown to those Countries described by the Author was justified. The
difficulty of conquering them is explained. The Author takes his last leave of
the reader, proposes his way of living for the future, gives good advice, and
concludes.
Compiled by Ainhoa Sanchis Asensi
Academic year 1999/2000
10 February 2000
© a.r.e.a. /Dr. Vicente Forés Lopez
© Ainhoa Sanchis Asensi
Universitat de València Press
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