Richard Gravil Books

Focusing on Wordsworth's innovative poetic approach in Lyrical Ballads, this book situates his work within a transformative historical context. It explores his theories on poetry, particularly through the influential 'Preface,' and provides insightful commentary and questions on his poems, inviting readers to engage deeply with his ideas. Additionally, the book examines various critical perspectives from contemporary to Victorian times and offers an annotated guide for further exploration of Wordsworth's legacy.

First published in 1726, this classic work of satire presents a world gone haywire, where humans, despite their pomposity and grandiose illusions, are no better than weak and helpless fools. Lemuel Gulliver's journeys take him to Lilliput, a country whose inhabitants are no more than six inches tall; to Brobdingnag, a land of giants; to Laputa, a flying island inhabited by absent-minded people; and to the land of Houyhnhnms, where horselike creatures rule with intelligence and courtesy over repulsive humanlike Yahoos. One of literature's lasting legacies, Swift's trenchant cautionary tale is a witty, allegorical depiction of people at their worst; yet it may also be read as an enchanting, playful children's story with universal appeal.