Lawrence Sterne - Tristram Shandy

The Irishman Laurence Sterne published his bizarre novel in nine volumes, the first two appearing in 1759, and seven others following over the next 10 years. It is a humorous work, though some critics -Samuel Johnson among them- found it odd and predicted that it would not survive. When it comes to predictions it's wiser to keep mum and let people think we are slow and simple-minded, than to shoot our mouths and confirm that we are indeed so.

Order isn't the order of the day in this novel. The beginning you'll find in the middle, after a million digressions which are really the narrator's recollections and interactions with friends and relatives. I like the irreverent Parson Yorick, Uncle Toby, and the widow Wadam.

Here's a lesson for writers for who are apt to write biographies:

"I am this month one whole year older than I was this time twelve-month; and having got ... almost into the middle of my fourth volume-and no farther than to my first day's life-'tis demonstrative that I have three hundred and sixty-four days more life to write just now, than when I first set out ... write as I will ... I shall never overtake myself.... At the worst I shall have one day the start of my pen-and one day is enough for two volumes-and two volumes will be enough for one year."

That one can write volumes upon volumes and advance no further than our brand new spanking first day in this world is encouraging; encouraging because it proves that there's no shortage of material when it comes to writing about our own wonderful days.

What is one to say of an author that inserts a blank page in his novel, so that it is not only free from his own sins but also from others' slanders: "Thrice happy book! Thou wilt have one page, at least, within thy covers, which MALICE will not blacken, and which IGNORANCE cannot misrepresent."

Just a few days ago I wrote on article on the use and abuse of adverbs. For some reason I titled the article "War on 'Ly-Ending' Adverbs. I thought I was being original, but the originality should go to Lawrence Sterne who had already used the war metaphor:

"So that the life of a writer, whatever he might fancy to the contrary, was not so much a state of composition, as a state of warfare; and his probation in it, precisely that of any other man militant upon earth,-both depending alike, not half so much upon the degrees of his WIT-as his RESISTANCE."

If you like a good chuckle, read Tristram Shandy, for the novel is entertaining and humorous. And along the way you'll find the author's philosophical disquisitions which are the less attractive parts of the book-like the treatment of death, reality, and other serious matters.

Retired. Former investment banker, Columbia University-educated, Vietnam Vet (67-68).
For the writing techniques I use, see Mary Duffy's e-book: Sentence Openers.
To read my book reviews of the Classics visit my blog: Writing To Live