Name: The Life and Opinions of Tristram Shandy, Gentleman
SKU: 61707170
Price: 485.00 ZAR
Availability: InStock
Author: Laurence Sterne
ISBN: 9781547127832

portada The Life and Opinions of Tristram Shandy, Gentleman

The Life and Opinions of Tristram Shandy, Gentleman

Type

Physical Book

Author

Laurence Sterne

Publisher

Createspace

Language

English

Pages

464

Format

Paperback

Dimensions

22.9x15.2x2.4 cm

Weight

0.62 kg.

ISBN13

9781547127832

Synopsis "The Life and Opinions of Tristram Shandy, Gentleman"

The Life and Opinions of Tristram Shandy, Gentleman (or Tristram Shandy) is a novel by Laurence Sterne. As its title suggests, the book is ostensibly Tristram's narration of his life story. But it is one of the central jokes of the novel that he cannot explain anything simply, that he must make explanatory diversions to add context and colour to his tale, to the extent that Tristram's own birth is not even reached until Volume III. Consequently, apart from Tristram as narrator, the most familiar and important characters in the book are his father Walter, his mother, his Uncle Toby, Toby's servant Trim, and a supporting cast of popular minor characters, including the chambermaid, Susannah, Doctor Slop, and the parson, Yorick, who later became Sterne's favourite nom de plume and a very successful publicity stunt. Yorick is also the protagonist of Sterne's second work of fiction A Sentimental Journey Through France and Italy. Most of the action is concerned with domestic upsets or misunderstandings, which find humour in the opposing temperaments of Walter-splenetic, rational, and somewhat sarcastic-and Uncle Toby, who is gentle, uncomplicated, and a lover of his fellow man. In between such events, Tristram as narrator finds himself discoursing at length on sexual practices, insults, the influence of one's name, and noses, as well as explorations of obstetrics, siege warfare, and philosophy as he struggles to marshal his material and finish the story of his life.

Laurence Sterne

(Author)

View Author's Page

Laurence Sterne (1713–1768) was an Anglo-Irish novelist and clergyman, famous for his innovative style and sharp sense of humor. He was born in Clonmel, Ireland, and studied at the University of Cambridge. Ordained as a priest in the Anglican Church, he spent much of his life as a vicar in Yorkshire. However, his true fame came with the publication of The Life and Opinions of Tristram Shandy, Gentleman (1759–1767), a revolutionary novel that broke with the narrative conventions of his time.

Tristram Shandy stood out for its fragmented structure, constant digressions, typographical play, and satirical tone, influenced by authors like Rabelais and Cervantes. The work caused a sensation in England and Europe, making Sterne a literary figure of great renown. Later he published A Sentimental Journey Through France and Italy (1768), based on his travels through Europe, especially during his stay in France.

Sterne struggled for years with health issues, particularly tuberculosis, a disease that eventually led to his death in London. His literary legacy has deeply influenced modern and postmodern authors, and he is considered one of the forerunners of the experimental novel. His ironic and personal style continues to be the subject of study and admiration.

See less