Open Daily: 10am - 10pm | Alley door pickup 10am - 7pm 3038 Hennepin Ave Minneapolis, MN
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  • Open Daily: 10am - 10pm
    Alley-side Pickup: 10am - 7pm

    3038 Hennepin Ave Minneapolis, MN
    612-822-4611

Open Daily: 10am - 10pm | Alley-side Pickup: 10am - 7pm
3038 Hennepin Ave Minneapolis, MN
612-822-4611
The Life and Opinions of Tristram Shandy: 18th-Century British Satire, Experimental Narrative, and Literary Humor

The Life and Opinions of Tristram Shandy: 18th-Century British Satire, Experimental Narrative, and Literary Humor

Sterne, Laurence

Paperback

Classic Fiction

ISBN10: 2322622400
ISBN13: 9782322622405
Publisher: Bod - Books on Demand
Published: May 7 2025
Pages: 418
Weight: 1.09
Height: 0.93 Width: 5.83 Depth: 8.27
Language: English
The Life and Opinions of Tristram Shandy by Laurence Sterne is a groundbreaking 18th-century novel that defies conventional storytelling through its digressive structure and self-aware humor. Sternes protagonist, Tristram, attempts to narrate his life story but becomes entangled in absurd tangents-from debates on obstetrics to the eccentricities of his uncle Toby, a retired soldier obsessed with recreating historical battles. The works fragmented timeline, typographical experiments (including blank pages and marbled sheets), and metafictional asides challenge readers to reconsider the boundaries of narrative form. At its core, the novel blends satire with sentimentalism, mocking Enlightenment rationality while celebrating human idiosyncrasy. Scenes like Tristrams botched christening and Uncle Tobys courtship of Widow Wadman exemplify Sternes ability to find profundity in trivialities. The texts playful engagement with Lockes theories of associationism and its parody of biographical conventions cement its status as a precursor to modernist literature. Essential for enthusiasts of British satire and experimental fiction, this volume remains a touchstone for discussions on narrative innovation and the interplay between humor and philosophical inquiry.

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