JONATHAN Swift is best known among the general public as the author of Gulliver’s Travels but his private life, in particular his romantic relationship with two women, has been a source of fascination for many over the years.
One of the women, Est
her Van Homrigh, known as Vanessa, who lived in both Dublin city and north Kildare at Celbridge Abbey, during periods of her life was one of the two key women. The other was Esther Johnson, known as Stella.
Crime author, Pat Dunne, a native of Trim, has taken parts of Swift’s life and written a one man show on the author who was one of England’s leading political commentators in the 1700’s.
It will be performed at Kate Walsh House, at the The Mill, on Wednesday, 26 August next.
Swift, a clergyman by profession, spent time in Pat’s native Trim, Co. Meath and it is perhaps ironic that Pat now lives in Celbridge where a major scene in Swiftian jigsaw puzzle is said to lie. One of Swift’s biographers, David Nokes, writes about Swift’s apparent dilemma in choosing to marry either of the woman, drawn between Vanessa’s more passionate approach and Stella’s apparently quieter devotion.
He is said to have fallen into dejection and sickness when forced to choose between them. But he also seems to have had problems in trusting and emotional closeness. Speculation has also centred around the question of whether he had a child by one of the women.
For those who would like to read more about this fascination with Swift’s two women, ‘Cadenus & Swift’s Most Valuable Friend,’ (Lilliput Press) first written by Sybil Le Brocquy is a good option. How could a clergyman love two women at once? she asked.
There has been much speculation over whether he married Stella in secret and had a major falling out with Vanessa at Celbridge, a month before her death. Perhaps hastened by a broken heart?
In his book, ‘In Search of Swift,’ Denis Johnston wrote of Swift’s life as a real life riddle and this very public man had deliberately set out to create of fog of confusion around his life and affairs.
Pat wrote ‘Only a Woman’s Hair,’ named after a lock of hair which was found in Swift’s desk and thought to have come from Stella.
The performance, which last not more than half an hour, is accompanied by a quartet of music. Space could be limited at this Celbridge Community Council run event so booking (contact Rhoda Judge on 01-6279145) is strongly advised.
