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musicdeepdive's review against another edition
3.5
I grant that Swift's life is a bit of a mystery apart from what is remaining in his written correspondence, so this book focusing on that is understandable, albeit occasionally a drag when the author takes dozens of pages to describe a single affair. But it contextualizes Swift's life well, and to see the development of the Gulliver's Travels worldview is enlightening.
mimosaeyes's review against another edition
4.0
Damrosch achieves his goal of evoking a more complex, nuanced Swift than the Swift described by some of his earlier biographers. When I read the last chapter for the first time for a class, I cried for Swift. Now, having read the whole book, it's a deeper, rounder grief for him, which is how I know I've been made to feel like I knew Swift.
karingforbooks's review against another edition
challenging
funny
informative
medium-paced
4.0
biggest complaint is the organization. Overall it’s good and makes sense but he repeats lines often and re-introduced people we’ve already met. I didn’t like that. Otherwise this was well written and easy to read. He uses a Lot of primary sources and swift’s own works. I loved that he addressed previous biographers and often quoted them but would counter their outdated ideas. He did an excellent job telling the life of an 18th century man from the pov of the 21st century without sacrificing either century’s ideas
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