A Tribute to a Master of Satire and the Creator of “Gulliverʼs Travels”
“Satire is a sort of glass, wherein beholders do generally discover everybodyʼs face but their own.” – Jonathan Swift
As a brand firmly anchored in writing culture, Montblanc makes it its cultural duty to pay tribute to the most distinguished authors and luminaries who have shaped human thought with the power of their words. With its Writers Edition issued every year since 1992, Montblanc remembers the literary icons of history and their legacies with exquisitely crafted writing instruments. The Writers Edition 2012 is dedicated to British-Irish writer Jonathan Swift: writer, poet and essayistoften considered the most important prose satirist in the English language, and creator of the satiric masterpiece: “Gulliverʼs Travels”.
Jonathan Swift – A Master of Satire
Born in Dublin in 1667 and raised without a father, Jonathan Swift grew up in England and Ireland, two countries he was always torn between. His ambition and intelligence earned him his Master of Arts from Oxford University. He was then ordained a priest in the Anglican Church in Ireland, eventually becoming deacon of St Patrickʼs Cathedral in Dublin. He developed his sharp pen as coeditor of pro-Irish newspaper “The Examiner” and other books often published under pseudonyms. As an astute observer and endowed with a keen intellect, he exposed injustices of his time. He was inspired by the social problems he witnessed and the dubious morality of human actions. In particular, his biting satires criticised the exploitation of the Irish by English landowners and parodied quarrels between Christian denominations.
“Gulliverʼs Travels” – A Classic of World Literature
Swift created over 30 works in his lifetime but it was “Gulliverʼs Travels”, published in 1726, that remains the masterpiece he will always be remembered for. The epic work describes English ship surgeon Lemuel Gulliver’s voyages to exotic and distant lands, where he encounters dwarfs, giants, quirky scientists and intelligent horses. The often naïve protagonist of this story discovers the prolific abuse of power and corruption in each of the lands he visits, as well as the struggles between individual and society. Through this monumental work, the satirist reflects on his own political experiences in the Age of the Enlightenment and attacks the vain and hypocritical behaviour of the English ruling class. Swift uses a fantastic and colourful story to criticise the shortcomings of society. This rich and highly imaginative novel has enchanted generations of readers, and has been the subject of many film adaptations. It continues to be one of the most widely read classics of Western literature with names of inhabitants of Gulliverʼs world such as Lilliputian or Yahoo words from having entered the modern lexicon forever.
Montblanc Writers Edition – A Masterpiece Dedicated to a Literary Master
The Writerʼs Edition brings to life the fantastical world created by Swift and inhabited by his hero Gulliver. The overall design draws inspiration from “Gulliverʼs Travels”, and in particular the Lilliput episode, Gulliverʼs first voyage. The barrel is made of black lacquer and decorated with multilayered inlays reminiscent of the ropes that were used to bind Gulliver at the beach of Lilliput island.
The cap is made of precious black resin, and shaped like Gulliverʼs tricorn – a typical tradesman three-cornered hat popular in the 18 th century. It bears the signature of Jonathan Swift. A platinum-plated clip depicts the staircase the mayor of Lilliput had to climb to be able to talk to Gulliver. Finally, the instrumentʼs delicately designed rhodium-plated 18K gold nib is decorated with an elaborate engraving showing the imperial army of Lilliput marching between Gulliverʼs legs.
The Writers Edition Jonathan Swift is only available in a strictly limited edition worldwide, with an issue number engraved on the cap as a guarantee of its uniqueness. With this uniquely crafted piece, Montblanc reinforces Swiftʼs unmistakable influence on culture and modern thought. Montblanc – a story to tell.
The Writers Edition is available in Fountain pen, Rollerball, Ballpoint Pen and Mechanical Pencil (set only) from August 2012 in Montblanc boutiques worldwide
