Laurence Sterne
Laurence Sterne (1713-1768) was an English humourist, born at Clonmel, Ireland, son of Roger Sterne, captain in the army. His mother was an Irishwoman. He was educated at Halifax and Cambridge, by-and-by took orders, and received livings in Sutton and Shillington, became a prebend at York, and finally got a living at Coxwold. In 1759, appeared his the first two volumes of "Tristram Shandy," and in 1767 the last two. In 1768, his "Sentimental Journey," and in the interim his "Sermons," equally characteristic of the man as the two former productions. Stopford Brooke says, "They have no plot, they can scarcely be said to have any story. The story of 'Tristram Shandy' wanders like a man in a labyrinth, and the humour is as labyrinthine as the story. It is carefully invented, and whimsically subtle; and the sentiment is sometimes true, but mostly affected. But a certain unity is given to the book by the admirable consistency of the characters," his masterpieces, among which is "Uncle Toby". The author died in London of pulmonary consumption.Wisdom & Quotes
- A man should know something of his own country, too, before he goes abroad.
- Writing, when properly managed (as you may be sure I think mine is), is but a different name for conversation.
- There are worse occupations in this world than feeling a woman's pulse.
Thomas Morell