Jonathan Swift

'The best biography of Swift to date.' Michael Foot, Observer 'David Nokes's book is splendid.' Denis Donoghue, London Review of Books David Nokes presents a gripping and authoritative portrait of Swift in his multifarious roles as satirist, politician, churchman and friend. Drawing on the most recent scholarship, he seeks in particular to re-establish a proper balance between Swift's public and private lives. 'Some books give the reader an immediate sense of confidence in the author and this admirable new biography of Swift is one of them.' Yorkshire Post 'Should remain the standard one-volume Life for years to come.' New York Times

David Nokes was for many years a professor of English Literature at King's College London, where he taught eighteenth-century literature and pioneered the Creative Writing course. His books include Jonathan Swift, A Hypocrite Reversed, whichwon the James Tait Black Memorial prize in 1985, and biographies of John Gay (1995), Jane Austen (1997) and Samuel Johnson (2009). His adaptation of Clarissa for BBC TV was nominated for a Bafta award in 1991. David Nokes died in 2009.