Jonathan Swift (1667-1745) is often considered one the world's greatest satirists. His essay, "A Modest Proposal," is satire at its best (A Grades 8-12 Literature Unit here). Travels into Several Remote Nations of the World, more commonly known as Gulliver's Travels is his satiric masterpiece.
Gulliver's Travels is a great story and often abridged for younger audiences. In its full form it is high satire and though Swift was often criticizing the England of his day it can be read without knowing those historical events. This story, like all classics, transcends its time period and is as relevant today as it was in 1726 when it was first published.
This abridgement of Gulliver's Travels could be better. All the elements of the action of the story are there, for the most part, but all of the philosophical and most of the satiric wit of Swift's masterpiece has been eliminated. This will introduce students to the story, or at least to the first 2 parts (Parts 3 & 4 are not covered as is often the case with abridgments for children) and prepare them for a full reading later on. But I think children can handle a lot more than they are often asked to handle. The unabridged version would be too much for younger students, but this abridgement errs in the other direction by giving them too little.
Source: http://www.millstoneeducation.com/worldLit/b4thru7/gulliver/
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