816 Gulliver's Travels at 300 (with David Womersley) | My Last Book with Daniel Mendelsohn

As a literary classic turns 300, Jacke talks to the University of Oxford's David Womersley about Jonathan Swift, the nature of satire, and The Cambridge Anniversary Edition of Gulliver's Travels (cambridge.org/core/books/gullivers-travels/C67…), which Womersley edited. PLUS Daniel Mendelsohn, classics scholar and translator ofThe Odyssey (press.uchicago.edu/ucp/books/book/chicago/O/bo…), stops by to discuss his choice for the last book he will ever read.

On Sale Now! For more information and to order ⁠Great Detective! An Adventure for Two People [2-Book Boxed Set]⁠ (press.historyofliterature.com) by Jacke Wilson, visit ⁠press.historyofliterature.com⁠ (press.historyofliterature.com). SPECIAL DISCOUNT! It's a month for celebrations! In honor of the birthdays of America, Emma Wilson, Jacke Wilson, and Marcel Proust, enter discount code BIRTHDAY2026 to receive 20% off your order. Offer available throughout July 2026.

The music in this episode is by Gabriel Ruiz-Bernal. Learn more at ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠gabrielruizbernal.com⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ (gabrielruizbernal.com).

Help support the show at ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠patreon.com/literature⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ (patreon.com/literature) or ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠historyofliterature.com/donate⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ (historyofliterature.com/donate). The History of Literature Podcast is a member of Lit Hub Radio and the Podglomerate Network. Learn more at ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠thepodglomerate.com/historyofliterature⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ (thepodglomerate.com/historyofliterature).

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices