Laurence Sterne

I've searched this forum and found two threads asking for Laurence Sterne to be included on the authors list, neither of which received a definitive answer.

I am currently reading Tristram Shandy and would be interested in the opinions of others who have read it. For the record, the other Sterne book that has been previously suggested was A Sentimental Journey Through France and Italy.

Tristram Shandy is a famous and influential work and comfortably old enough to fall within the public domain - I think it deserves a spot on the authors list.

Tristram Shandy is one of my favourites. The elaborate layers of satire is absolutely brilliant. I've seen very few digital reproductions of Shandy, and am not too displeased by it. The book is rooted in the book - it's bad enough that we have to suffer through the irony of the mass-production of the marble page, but it loses so much in digitization.

Personally I'm not desperate for an e-text version (as I have a paper copy), it's more the dedicated section for discussion that comes with it that interests me.

Ah, yes, that is lacking. But there is no reason it cannot be sparked right here!

There is much to be gained from Shandian discussions, I think, for he is always considerate of us readers -

"BUT courage! gentle reader! ---- I scorn it ---- 'tis enough
to have thee in my power ---- but to make use of the advantage which the for-
tune of the pen has now gained over thee, would be too much ---- No ---- !
by that all powerful fire which warms the visionary brain, and lights the spirits through unworldly tracts! ere I would force a helpless creature upon this hard service, and make thee pay, poor soul! for fifty pages which I have no right to sell thee, -- naked as I am, I would browse upon the
mountains, and smile that the north wind brought me neither my tent or
my supper.

-- So put on, my brave boy! and make the best of thy way to Boulogne.


I love this passage.

Quote:

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Originally Posted by RaoulDuke

Tristram Shandy is a famous and influential work and comfortably old enough to fall within the public domain - I think it deserves a spot on the authors list.

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It certainly does.