Political Critique in Augustans
The Augustans sure weren't afraid to get political.
In fact, politics was one of their favorite themes. After all, if being snarky is your shtick, what better topic could there be than politics? The Augustans loved writing pamphlets and treatises and even poems condemning laws and policies and any type of political practice that they didn't agree with. And there was a lot they didn't agree with.
Shmoops:
Jonathan Swift's A Modest Proposal may be funny, but it also addresses some serious political issues of the day. Have a look at an analysis of its political themes here.
Things get pretty political in Gulliver's Travels, too. Gulliver's experience with various governments during his travels is actually pretty disheartening. Check out this book's politics here.