Editors’ Pick
Designed to Feel by Peter Burchardt
Designed to Feelby Peter Burchardt — on emotions, evolution & the science of feeling
View on Amazon →
Cover of The Life and Opinions of Tristram Shandy, Gentleman
Literary Fiction· United Kingdom

The Life and Opinions of Tristram Shandy, Gentleman

by Laurence Sterne
Aggregate Editorial Score46/100
Guardian 100 Best Novels
Published 1759526 pagesEnglish
Buy on Amazon →

About This Book

Published in 1759, The Life and Opinions of Tristram Shandy, Gentleman established Laurence Sterne as one of the defining voices in literary fiction. Tristram Shandy attempts to write his life story but is so overwhelmed by digressions—on his nose, his uncle Toby's hobby horse, the theories of Walter Shandy—that he gets only to his own birth by the third volume. Sterne's experimental novel anticipated postmodernism by two centuries and remains deliriously funny. Themes of digression, meta-fiction, comedy run through the work. The book has received recognition from Guardian 100 Best Novels 1759.

Book Details

AuthorLaurence Sterne
Published1759
Country of Origin🇬🇧 United Kingdom
LanguageEnglish
Pages526
Category📖 Literary Fiction
ISBN9780140437386
Editorial Score46/100
About the Category

📖 Literary Fiction

Character-driven fiction that prioritises style, theme, and psychological depth.

Explore all Literary Fiction books →
Country of Origin

🇬🇧 United Kingdom

This book is part of United Kingdom's rich literary tradition.

Explore books from United Kingdom →

Editorial Assessment

Laurence Sterne published The Life and Opinions of Tristram Shandy, Gentleman in 1759, and it has since become one of the more widely recognised works of literary fiction from United Kingdom. The book's treatment of digression, meta-fiction, comedy, life accounts for much of its enduring reputation. Among its recognitions: Guardian 100 Best Novels 1759. With an editorial score of 46/100 drawn from 1 independent sources, the book occupies a well-documented position in the critical literature. Its recognition spans international prizes, "best of" lists, and academic surveys. The appeal of The Life and Opinions of Tristram Shandy, Gentleman lies partly in its refusal to offer easy answers. Its exploration of digression, meta-fiction, comedy, life is sustained, textured, and genuinely thought-provoking in ways that stay with readers well after the final page. Within United Kingdom's literary landscape, Laurence Sterne occupies a significant position. The Life and Opinions of Tristram Shandy, Gentleman is both a personal artistic statement and a contribution to a tradition shaped by the country's history and cultural concerns.
About this assessment: Editorial scores are aggregated from 1 independent sources including major literary prizes, critical surveys, and leading publications. Our editorial team reviews and contextualises this data. Rankings reflect critical consensus, not personal opinion or popularity metrics. Learn about our methodology.

Awards & Recognition

Guardian 100 Best Novels
list · global
175921
✍️
About the Author
Laurence Sterne
United Kingdom
View Author →

Laurence Sterne is a celebrated author from United Kingdom known for influential works of literary fiction.

Happy Children
The Parenting Companion
Happy Children
What Evolution Actually Built Your Child’s Emotions For
Your child’s emotions are not the problem. They are the operating system.
Get It on Amazon →Paperback & Kindle

What to Read Next

Cover of Midnight's Children
literary-fiction

Midnight's Children

Salman Rushdie· 1981
★Nobel Prize in Literature★Booker Prize
Editorial Score100/100
Cover of The God of Small Things
literary-fiction

The God of Small Things

Arundhati Roy· 1997
★Nobel Prize in Literature★Booker Prize
Editorial Score100/100
Cover of The Remains of the Day
literary-fiction

The Remains of the Day

Kazuo Ishiguro· 1989
★Nobel Prize in Literature★Booker Prize
Editorial Score100/100
Cover of The White Tiger
literary-fiction

The White Tiger

Aravind Adiga· 2008
★Nobel Prize in Literature★Booker Prize
Editorial Score100/100
Cover of The Road
literary-fiction

The Road

Cormac McCarthy· 2007
★Pulitzer Prize★Hugo Award
Editorial Score100/100
Cover of Wolf Hall
historical-fiction

Wolf Hall

Hilary Mantel· 2009
★Booker Prize★Costa Book Award
Editorial Score100/100

Frequently Asked Questions

What is The Life and Opinions of Tristram Shandy, Gentleman about?

Tristram Shandy attempts to write his life story but is so overwhelmed by digressions—on his nose, his uncle Toby's hobby horse, the theories of Walter Shandy—that he gets only to his own birth by the third volume. Sterne's experimental novel anticipated postmodernism by two centuries and remains deliriously funny.

Who wrote The Life and Opinions of Tristram Shandy, Gentleman?

The Life and Opinions of Tristram Shandy, Gentleman was written by Laurence Sterne, from United Kingdom. First published in 1759.

What awards has The Life and Opinions of Tristram Shandy, Gentleman won?

The Life and Opinions of Tristram Shandy, Gentleman has received the following awards and honours: Guardian 100 Best Novels 1759.

Is The Life and Opinions of Tristram Shandy, Gentleman worth reading?

The Life and Opinions of Tristram Shandy, Gentleman is a book that has earned critical recognition, with an aggregate editorial score of 21/100 on 50 Best Books, based on mentions across 1 editorial source. It is particularly recommended for readers interested in digression, meta-fiction, comedy.

Where can I buy The Life and Opinions of Tristram Shandy, Gentleman?

You can buy The Life and Opinions of Tristram Shandy, Gentleman on Amazon. Click the Buy on Amazon button above to find the best edition.

What category is The Life and Opinions of Tristram Shandy, Gentleman?

The Life and Opinions of Tristram Shandy, Gentleman is classified as Literary Fiction. Character-driven fiction that prioritises style, theme, and psychological depth.

What country is The Life and Opinions of Tristram Shandy, Gentleman from?

The Life and Opinions of Tristram Shandy, Gentleman originates from United Kingdom's literary tradition. Explore more books from United Kingdom on our country page.

Popular on 50 Best Books

Best Science Fiction Books of All TimeScience FictionBooker Prize Winners — Complete List & GuideLiterary PrizesNobel Prize in Literature — Every Winner Since 1901Literary PrizesClassic Literature Reading List — 50 Essential BooksReading GuidesBest Books for Beginners — 20 Easy Reads for New BookloversReading Guides

Explore More

📖More Literary FictionBrowse all Literary Fiction books🇬🇧Books from United Kingdom🇬🇧 United Kingdom literature📅1750s BooksPublished in the 1750s🏆Top 50 RankingsThe greatest books of all time