The Bickerstaff-Partridge Papers

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The narrative centers on Jonathan Swift's satirical feud with astrologer John Partridge, sparked by Partridge's public discrediting of the Christian church. Swift, under a pseudonym, crafts The Bickerstaff-Partridge Papers, beginning with a critique of astrology and a series of absurd predictions, including Partridge's death. The letters gain popularity, leading to public mourning for Partridge, who struggles to refute the claims. Swift's final letter philosophically questions the nature of death, further entrenching the belief in Partridge's demise.