Montblanc Writers Edition 2012: Jonathan Swift

With the Writers Edition 2012 Montblanc pays tribute to the Master of Satire – poet and essayist – Jonathan Swift, well known through his satiric masterpiece “Gulliver’s Travels” which has been the inspiration for the design of this exclusive Limited Edition.

The Montblanc Writers Edition

Human beings have always shown a natural instinct to express their feelings, impressions and experiences in words. By committing these words to writing, Montblanc encourages history to evolve, culture to spread and civilization to grow. Nowhere has this individual expression of the human spirit been more intriguingly revealed than in the great novels and tales of world literature. Nowhere else have such fascinating stories been created, stories that have not only inspired generations but also shaped entire eras and cultural movements. This is why Montblanc remembers since 1992 the literary icons of history and their legacies with exquisitely crafted writing instruments every year with the Montblanc Writers Edition.

This year’s edition is dedicated to British-Irish writer Jonathan Swift, often considered as the most important prose satirist in the English language, and creator of “Gulliver’s Travels”.

Jonathan Swift – A Master of Satire

Born in Dublin on November 30th, 1667 and raised without a father, Jonathan Swift, the author in question, grew up in Ireland and England. Having received his bachelor’s degree of theology, he moved to Farnham, England, where he took up work as a secretary for influential politician Sir William Temple. Swift was always torn between England and Ireland: His ambition earned him his Master of Arts at Oxford University in the following years. He was ordained a priest of the Anglican Church in Ireland and became deacon of St. Patrick’s Cathedral in Dublin.

Working as co-editor of the pro-Irish newspaper “Examiner” and writing his first books, he developed his strongest weapon: his sharp pen. The observant man, endowed with a keen intellect, exposed injustices of his time. His biting satires criticised the exploitation of the Irish by English land owners and parodied quarrels between Christian denominations. Swift’s works were inspired by the social problems in Ireland and the dubious morality of human actions. In more than 30 works, some of which he published under pseudonyms, he proved himself a witty and sharp tongued author who was not afraid to heap scorn on his opponents. His political satires and his work “A Modest Proposal”, which made him an Irish hero, were followed by “Gulliver’s Travels”.

“Gulliver’s Travels” – A Classic of World Literature

Swift created over 30 works in his lifetime but it was “Gulliver’s Travels”, published in 1726, that remains the masterpiece he will always be remembered for. The epic work describes English ship surgeon Lemuel Gulliver’s voyages to exotic and distant lands, where he encounters dwarfs, giants, quirky scientists and intelligent horses.

In this novel, Swift illustrates and criticises the shortcomings of society. Attacking the ruling English class, he ironically and cynically depicts vain and hypocritical behaviour. Irony and cynicism are characteristics that Gulliver develops in the course of the story, and in the end he, too, is as misanthropic as his creator himself. This rich and highly imaginative novel has enchanted readers of all generations alike, has been adapted for several films, and still is one of the most widely read classics.

Montblanc Writers Edition 2012 – A masterpiece dedicated to a literary master

The overall design of the Writer’s Edition 2012 is inspired by “Gulliver’s Travels” and brings to life the fantastical world created by Swift. The barrel is made of black lacquer and decorated with multi-layered inlays reminiscent of the ropes that were used to bind Gulliver on the beach of Lilliput island. The cap is made of black precious resin and shaped like Gulliver’s tricorn. It bears the signature of Jonathan Swift while the clip depicts the staircase the mayor of Lilliput had to climb to be able to talk to Gulliver. Both clip and fittings are platinum-plated. The rhodium-plated 18K gold nib is decorated with an elaborate engraving showing the imperial army of Lilliput marching between Gulliver’s legs.

The strictly limited Writers Edition Jonathan Swift is available from August 2012 in Montblanc boutiques worldwide as Fountain Pen, Rollerball, Ballpoint Pen or as exclusive sets.

The Writers Edition Jonathan Swift comes with a charming seaweed green coloured ink, exuding an inspiring spirit and stimulating imagination and creativity on footsteps of the talented writer.

Montblanc Limited Edition Cuff Links – Jonathan Swift

A stainless steel pair of Cuff Links accompanies the outstanding writing instruments of the Writers Edition 2012. While the shape of the Limited Edition Cuff Links is inspired by the typical tradesman hats of the early 18th century, the brim of the Cuff Link with onyx inlays is embellished with the delicate interpretation of the ropes that have captured Gulliver.

Montblanc’s inspiring Jonathan Swift web-special

Dive into the imaginative world of Liliput Island and discover more about this fantastic edition and Jonathan Swift’s famous masterpiece “Gulliver’s Travel” on our webspecial www.montblanc.com/jonathan-swift now.