Laurence Sterne

The Life and Opinions of Tristram Shandy, Gentleman Laurence Sterne Ill edition

Laurence Sterne (1713-1768) was an Irish-born English novelist and an Anglican clergyman. He is best known for his novels The Life and Opinions of Tristram Shandy, Gentleman (1759) and A Sentimental Journey Through France and Italy (1768); but he also published sermons, wrote memoirs, and was involved in local politics. He was ordained as a deacon in 1737 and as a priest in 1738. Shortly thereafter Sterne was awarded the vicarship living of Sutton-on-the-Forest in Yorkshire. Sterne's life at this time was closely tied with his uncle, Dr. Jaques Sterne, who urged him to begin a career of political journalism which resulted in some scandal for Sterne. Sterne's early writing life was unremarkable. He wrote letters, had two ordinary sermons published in 1747 and 1750, and tried his hand at satire. He was involved in, and wrote about, local politics in 1742. His major publication prior to Tristram Shandy was the satire A Political Romance (1759). A posthumously published piece on the art of preaching, A Fragment in the Manner of Rabelais, appears to have been written in 1759.