Published posthumously in 1766, A Journal to Stella by Jonathan Swift
is a complete collection consisting of sixty-five letters he wrote to
Esther Johnson, whom he bestowed the name of Stella. It is known that
Stella is the name Swift gave to Esther Johnson. They met when she was
only eight years old and knew each other for the entirety of the rest of
their lives. Swift was first a mentor to young Esther. He taught her to
read and write then introduced her to the arts. Jonathan's relationship
to Esther is intriguing. While they shared a friendship for many years,
Jonathan left her in Ireland when he moved to London for some time. In
that time, he drew interest from several other women, but nothing came
of those relationships. However, when a man showed interest in Esther
and wished to propose, the letters disclose how Jonathan prevented this
from happening. Such interference provides greater evidence for the
affection he felt for Stella. There are no accounts from Stella herself,
but Swift depicts her character wonderfully as a loyal, kind, and clever
woman. The sixty-five letters to Stella that compose A Journal to
Stella, explores Swift and Johnson's relationship and history.
A Journal to Stella is an interesting study on the relationship
between the highly esteemed classical author, Jonathan Swift and a woman
who was very dear to him. Written with affection and detailed prose, the
letters that are featured in A Journal to Stella also reveal insights
on the culture of 18th century London and features many of the prominent
men that Swift met. As he wrote of his daily routine and life, readers
are allowed a privileged glimpse of how this famous author lived day to
day, including the intimate details of his relationships.
Containing the wit and humor Swift is famous for, A Journal to Stella
reveals the author for who he really was, allowing even modern readers
to know this incredible 18th century man. This edition of Jonathan
Swift's A Journal to Stella features an eye-catching cover design and
is printed in a readable font, making it both accessible and modern.
