Summary

Chapter 1

The story begins with Gulliver explainingg where he was born. Gulliver states that he grew up in Nottingshire in England and as a small boy studied mathematics and navigation for when he would grow up to be an adventurer. In his early adult years he studied medicine at Oxford and was urged to become a surgeon on the vessel, The Swallow. Gulliver writes that he traveled with The Swallow for many years but decided to come back and settle down. He marries a woman, Mrs. Burton, who had a dowry of 400 pounds. Once Gulliver's old mentor dies his business starts to go downhill fast, so Gulliver decides to go to sea and leave his family for a short time.

After several years, he returns and attempts to settle back into rural life.

Gulliver loves his wife but grows restless after...