Swift, Jonathan

Jonathan Swift (1667–1745), best known as a satirist and author, made a notable contribution to (and commentary on) 18th century cartography. His best known work, Gulliver’s Travels (first published 1726) features some of the earliest fantasy maps ever published (preceded we think only by Thomas More's Utopia), depicting the fictional lands featured in the novel including Lilliput, Blefuscu, Brobdingnag, Laputa, and Houyhnhnms Land. These maps blend real and imaginary geography, while satirizing the often speculative and unreliable travel narratives and maps of Swift’s era. Swift placed these fictional lands near real locations, such as Lilliput in the South Indian Ocean and Brobdingnag on the western coast of North America. This deliberate placement mocked explorers' exaggerated claims, creating a parody of serious cartography. Scholars believe Swift may have been influenced by his friend the cartographer Herman Moll, whom the protagonist references in the novel as "my worthy friend", and whom it has been speculated drew the maps for Swift.