Jonathan Swift's Last Joke

2 days ago

In 2018, David Kenny, a law professor, became fascinated by Jonathan Swift's epitaph in St. Patrick's Cathedral, Dublin, sensing hidden meaning beyond the accepted heroic interpretation.
Kenny embarked on a seven-year scholarly quest, studying Swift's works, biographies, and epitaphs, driven by disbelief that Swift wrote anything 'obtrusively serious' without irony.
Key insight came in 2025: Swift's will specified his epitaph be placed near that of Narcissus Marsh, a rival he despised, suggesting a satirical jab at Marsh's vanity via contrasting monuments.
Historical research revealed the monuments were originally adjacent but separated during 19th-century cathedral renovations, unknowingly ruining Swift's intended joke.
Experts like biographer John Stubbs and scholar Leo Damrosch found Kenny's theory plausible and convincing, aligning with Swift's character as a prankster and satirist.
Kenny's work, part detective story and literary criticism, highlights how amateur enthusiasts can uncover insights overlooked by academics, though his obsession persists despite pausing the inquiry.

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