The Prose Works of Jonathan Swift, D.D. — Volume 10

A quiet scholarly intrigue unfolds as readers are invited into the world of early‑18th‑century politics and literary sleuthing. The volume opens with a careful examination of lingering doubts about whether Jonathan Swift truly authored the “History of the Four Last Years of the Queen,” setting the stage for a thoughtful investigation that feels part history lesson and part literary detective story.

Through a series of vivid letters exchanged between Swift’s confidants—Dr. William King, the Earl of Oxford, and others—the listener follows the painstaking effort to verify dates, sources, and the very purpose of the manuscript. The narrative captures the tension of secretive drafts, anonymous copies, and the delicate balance between personal loyalty and public controversy, offering a compelling glimpse into how a celebrated writer’s legacy was pieced together long after his retirement.