Product Description

The comic masterpiece TRISTRAM SHANDY by Sterne is generally regarded as the progenitor of the 20th century novel. Set in the Shandy's small parlour and garden, the book, narrated by Tristram, consists of a plot frequently and flagrantly interrupted by digressions. tristram insists on beginning the book at the moment of his own conception, but provides no consistent thread or conclusion to his tale. Shrewd and Bawdy, he is filled with such vitality that his words can scarcely keep up with his headlong thought. The characters that people his account include his excitable father, Walter, Uncle Toby, the bewildered Mrs Shandy, impulsive Parson Yoric and Dr Slop, incompetent Physician. Impossible and hilarious Tristram Shandy defies definitions and turns conventions on their head even while laying the very foundations of great modern writing.

Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #6194 in Books
• Published on: 2003-03-27
• Number of items: 1
• Binding: Paperback
• 720 pages

Synopsis
Laurence Sterne's great masterpiece of bawdy humour and rich satire defies any attempt to categorize it. Part novel, part digression, its gloriously disordered narrative interweaves the birth and life of the unfortunate 'hero' Tristram Shandy, the eccentric philosophy of his father Walter, the amours and military obsessions of Uncle Toby, and a host of other characters.

Customer Reviews

The book's great, this edition isn't!
Giving Tristram Shandy a 1-star review makes me shudder, but I feel it's imperative that everyone knows this edition comes without -any- notes. If you're widely read and know a bit about the period this might not be a huge problem, but even then you're probably going to miss a lot with Sterne, who is a very allusive writer. I recommend getting another edition, most will come with notes.

A wandering rambling classic
This book was published in the mid eighteenth century but shows so much warm insight into humanity and the oddness of people's eccentricities that it is practically timeless. It celebrates and adores its characters with a gentle, loving wicked humour and observation and a glorious playful and rich (and florid) language which is modern enough to read without too much adjustment - there are no low moments or sad parts even though it covers many events which could have been seen as traumatic. It is bawdy without being crude or explicit. It is funny enough to keep you smiling throughout. It needs to be read again and again to get the most out of every word - especially because it rambles, chops and changes its narrative in a manner which the author admits is both appalling (and a deliberate play on the florid and rambling novels of the time) and which he comments on and talks to you about as he loses his way and finds it again. If I was only ever allowed one book to read for the rest of my life it would be this one - don't miss it! The Penguin Classic Audiobook read by Steven Pacey is a superb version of what must be in the top ten of books you'd never want to read out aloud - it makes the story jump out of the page and make sense.

One of the greatest of comic novels
Dr Johnson famously said of this book, "Nothing odd will do long - Tristram Shandy did not last." Well, even the good doctor could err. The book has lasted, to the delight of generations of readers.