Generations have thrilled to this novel's tale of the sacred destiny of charioteer Judah Ben-Hur, who was betrayed by his best friend, obsessed with revenge, and transformed by his encounters with Jesus.
Samuel Johnson, who did not like Swift, said that A Tale of a Tub «exhibits a vehemence and rapidity of mind, a copiousness of images, and vivacity of diction such as he afterwards never possessed or never exerted.» And in his old age «looking over the Tale, » Swift called out to Mrs. Whiteway, «Good ...
