2008 Woodie Awards
New Swift manuscript uncovered
Catie Thompson
Issue date: 3/28/08 Section: A&E
When James Woolley, Smith Professor of English, discovered a lost manuscript of the 18th century Irish satirist Jonathan Swift, he was met with a jaw-dropping surprise: the poet's first unpublished poem in centuries. The heirloom manuscript was in the hands of descendants of the Achesons in Frankfurt, Germany who allowed Woolley to transcribe pieces of the manuscript, including the unpublished poem. On Wednesday March 26th, Woolley unveiled his findings, providing commentary on the new poem and showing images from the manuscript.
The poem, "An Excellent New Panegyrick on Skinnibonnia" was written in 1728 during Swift's stay in the town of Market Hill in Northern Ireland during an extended visit in Lord Arthur and Lady Anne Acheson's home. The poem comically refers to his hostess Lady Acheson as "Skinnibonnia" and satirizes what Woolley refers to as the "trappings of romantic femininity." In typical Swift style, the poem manages to provide sufficient social commentary with a unique subversive humor.
The manuscript also includes numerous other unpublished poems from unknown Irish authors of the 18th century hand written by the Achesons. These poems and "Skinnibonnia" make this found manuscript one of the most important anthologies of Anglo-Irish verse. Woolley will be the first to publish the poem in his article "Swift's 'Skinnibonnia' A New Poem for Lady Acheson's Manuscript" along with facsimilies of the manuscript.
The poem, "An Excellent New Panegyrick on Skinnibonnia" was written in 1728 during Swift's stay in the town of Market Hill in Northern Ireland during an extended visit in Lord Arthur and Lady Anne Acheson's home. The poem comically refers to his hostess Lady Acheson as "Skinnibonnia" and satirizes what Woolley refers to as the "trappings of romantic femininity." In typical Swift style, the poem manages to provide sufficient social commentary with a unique subversive humor.
The manuscript also includes numerous other unpublished poems from unknown Irish authors of the 18th century hand written by the Achesons. These poems and "Skinnibonnia" make this found manuscript one of the most important anthologies of Anglo-Irish verse. Woolley will be the first to publish the poem in his article "Swift's 'Skinnibonnia' A New Poem for Lady Acheson's Manuscript" along with facsimilies of the manuscript.
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