Laurence Sterne (1713-1768) was an English novelist, clergyman, and satirist. He is best known for his two novels, Tristram Shandy (1759-1767) and A Sentimental Journey Through France and Italy (1768), which are both known for their innovative use of narrative techniques and their exploration of human nature.
Life and Work
Laurence Sterne was born in Clonmel, County Tipperary, Ireland, in 1713. He was the son of Roger Sterne, a vicar, and Elizabeth Lumley. Sterne studied at Jesus College, Cambridge, and was ordained as a priest in the Church of England in 1738.
Sterne's first major work was The Life and Opinions of Tristram Shandy, Gentleman, which was published in nine volumes between 1759 and 1767. The novel is a satirical and picaresque novel that is known for its unconventional narrative structure, its digressions, and its exploration of the relationship between language and reality.
In 1768, Sterne published A Sentimental Journey Through France and Italy, a travelogue that is known for its sentimentality and its exploration of the human emotions. The book was a commercial success, and it helped to solidify Sterne's reputation as a leading literary figure of his time.
Legacy
Laurence Sterne is considered to be one of the most important and innovative novelists of the 18th century. His work has been praised for its wit, its humor, and its exploration of the complexities of the human condition.
Key Works
The Life and Opinions of Tristram Shandy, Gentleman (1759-1767)
A Sentimental Journey Through France and Italy (1768)
Quotes
"Oh! Tristram, Tristram, can'st thou not finish thy tale? 'Tis all owing to thy damn'd digressions." (Tristram Shandy)
"I have got into such a labyrinth of doubt and uncertainties that I am giddy with the thought of it." (A Sentimental Journey Through France and Italy)
"The heart is the first that feels, the last that forgets." (A Sentimental Journey Through France and Italy)
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