When the famed 18th century astrologer, John Partridge, publicly
discredited the Christian church, Jonathan Swift developed an immense
distaste for the man. Feeling insulted and malicious, Swift decided to
celebrate his favorite holiday, All Fools Day, more commonly known as
April Fools, while also appeasing his self-appointed feud with
Partridge. Under the disguise of a pseudonym, Swift published The
Bickerstaff-Partridge Papers as a series of three letters. The first
letter, titled Predictions for the Year 1708 started with a criticism
of the cultural impact astrology had on their society. Eventually, the
narrative shifts to list predictions including political uprisings, the
birth of children, weather patterns, battle outcomes, and most
importantly, the death of notable figures, including John Partridge. To
accompany this letter, Swift next published The Accomplishments of the
First of Mr. Bickerstaff's Predictions, which was written from the
perspective of a government employee who supported and confirmed the
validity of Bickerstaff's predictions. This section also included an
elegy for John Partridge, furthering the claim that the man was dead.
These papers gained immense popularity, and convinced the public that
these predictions were legitimate. This caused quite the disturbance for
Partridge, who was often waken by the sound of people crying outside his
home, mourning his death. After Partridge published a paper to deny the
rumors that he was dead, Swift responded with the final part of The
Bickerstaff-Partridge Papers, pondering the philosophical definition of
death to convince his audience that Partridge was dead once more.
Though it began as a prank, Swift's The Bickerstaff-Partridge Papers
transformed into a life-altering work that employed careful prose and
satire so supreme that it went unnoticed by many. Following its
popularity in 1708 and 1709, The Bickerstaff-Partridge Papers further
inspired celebrated authors such as Richard Steele, Benjamin Franklin,
and H.P. Lovecraft.
This edition of The Bickerstaff-Partridge Papers by Jonathan Swift
features a new, eye-catching cover design and is printed in a readable
font, making it both accessible and modern.
