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Scatology and Sex
Episode 3 of 5
Ian Hislop's series celebrating 300 years of Swift's Gulliver's Travels continues with the vexed subject of the author's apparent obsession with sex and scatology.
When it first appeared in 1726 there was much to ruffle the feathers of 18th century society, not least the thinly veiled attacks on politicians of the day. However, three hundred years on and its Swift's inclusion of all manner of scatological detail about Gulliver and his various and problematic dealings with women both large and small that are far more problematic. Is it a stumbling block to a modern audiences enjoyment of the book, or is it at the heart of the entire satirical creation?
Producer: Tom Alban
On radio
Wed 28 Oct 202611:45
BBC Radio 4
Broadcasts
- Wed 28 Oct 202611:45BBC Radio 4
- Thu 29 Oct 202600:30BBC Radio 4
