*The Journal to Stella* by Jonathan Swift is a deeply personal collection of letters written between 1710 and 1713 to Esther Johnson ("Stella") and her companion Rebecca Dingley ("MD"). The letters provide an intimate glimpse into Swift’s daily life, his political career, and his evolving thoughts during a period of significant personal and political upheaval in early 18th-century England.
Through these letters, Swift chronicles his rise from a relatively obscure cleric to a central figure in British politics, navigating the treacherous waters of Queen Anne’s court and the Tory government. The journal reveals Swift's wit, keen political insight, and affectionate bond with Stella, reflecting his complex personality—by turns playful, tender, and sharply critical of the social and political environment of his time.
Part political diary, part intimate correspondence, *The Journal to Stella* stands as both a historical document and a literary masterpiece, offering a rare blend of personal reflection and political commentary from one of the greatest satirists of all time.
Jonathan Swift (1667–1745) was an Anglo-Irish satirist, essayist, and political commentator, best known for his works *Gulliver's Travels* (1726), *A Modest Proposal* (1729), and *The Drapier’s Letters* (1724–1725). Swift’s sharp wit and political insight made him one of the most influential writers of his time. His works often explore themes of political corruption, human folly, and social injustice, earning him a lasting reputation as one of the greatest satirists in English literature.