Tristram Shandy by Laurence Sterne

As its title suggests, the book is ostensibly Tristram's narration of his life story. But it is one of the central jokes of the novel that he cannot explain anything simply, that he must make explanatory diversions to add context and colour to his tale, to the extent that we do not even reach Tristram's own birth until Volume III.

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The 46th greatest fiction book of all time

This book is on the following lists:

1. - 7th on The 100 Greatest Novels of All Time: The List (The Observer)
2. - 8th on The Ideal Library (Book)
3. - 11th on El Pais Favorite Books of 100 Spanish Authors (El Pais)
4. - 20th on The Telegraph’s 100 Novels Everyone Should Read (Telegraph)
5. - 29th on The Top 10: The Greatest Books of All Time (The Top 10 (Book))
6. - 30th on The Novel 100: A Ranking of the Greatest Novels of All Time (The Novel 100)
7. - 44th on 100 Best Books (Montana State University)
8. - 47th on The 100 Greatest British Novels (BBC)
9. - 49th on The 100 Best Books of World Literature (ABC.es)
10. - 55th on The 100 Greatest Novels (greatbooksguide.com)
11. - 85th on 100 Essential Books (Bravo! Magazine)
12. - 89th on Entertainment Weekly's Top 100 Novels (Entertainment Weekly)
13. - 1001 Books You Must Read Before You Die (The Book)
14. - Top 100 Works in World Literature (Norwegian Book Clubs, with the Norwegian Nobel Institute)
15. - ZEIT-Bibliothek der 100 Bücher (Die Zeit)
16. - The New Lifetime Reading Plan (The New Lifetime Reading Plan)
17. - Masterpieces of World Literature (Frank N. Magill)
18. - 100 Best Novels Written in English (The Guardian)

Buy This Book

	Name	Binding	Sales Rank	Lowest New	Lowest Used	Published
	The Life and Opinions of Tristram Shandy, Gentleman (Oxford World's Classics)	Paperback	154895	$6.86	$2.68	2009
	The Life and Opinions of Tristram Shandy, Gentleman (Penguin Classics)	Kindle Edition	348895	$4.70		2003
	Tristram Shandy (Complete Classics)	Audio CD	2658880	$47.63	$20.00	2009
	The Life and Opinions of Tristram Shandy, Gentleman (Annotated)	Kindle Edition	817283	$0.99		2013
	Tristram Shandy	Paperback	248579	$4.99		2018
	The Life and Opinions of Tristram Shandy, Gentleman: Vol. 1 The Text	Hardcover	1265463	$52.75	$41.84	1978
	The Life & Opinions of Tristram Shandy	Hardcover	3521372	$45.00	$3.57
	The Life and Opinions of Tristram Shandy, Vol 1 to 4: (Illustrated Classics)	Kindle Edition	470617	$4.99		2021
	Tristram Shandy	Paperback	6294806	$16.46	$16.33	2013
	Tristram Shandy	Paperback	12515320	$8.99		2006
	Tristram Shandy	Paperback	12537849	$7.99		2006
	Tristram Shandy (Norton Critical Editions)	Paperback	399523	$10.97	$0.01
	The Life and Opinions of Tristram Shandy, Gentleman (Dover Thrift Editions)	Kindle Edition	381263	$3.85		2012
	The Life and Opinions of Tristram Shandy, Gentleman (Illustrated)	Kindle Edition	609946	$0.99		2012
	The Works of Laurence Sterne: With an Account of the Life and Writings of the Author. Volume 2. The Life and Opinions of Tristram Shandy, Gentleman	Paperback	1635320	$23.99		2001
	Tristram Shandy	Hardcover	863171	$24.95	$29.13	2015
	Tristram Shandy (Wordsworth Classics)	Paperback	123073	$0.95	$0.01	1999
	Tristram Shandy	Paperback	2923090	$5.67	$9.08	2012
	The Life and Opinions of Tristram Shandy, Gentleman (Vintage Classics)	Kindle Edition	665856	$7.52		2013
	The Life and Opinions of Tristram Shandy, Gentleman: The Florida Edition (Penguin Classics)	Mass Market Paperback	1694579	$11.49	$0.01	1998
	The Life and Opinions of Tristram Shandy, Gentleman	Kindle Edition	923986			2013
	Tristram Shandy	Audible Audio Edition	49977	$11.95		2009
	Tristram Shandy (Penguin English Library)	Kindle Edition	794199	$8.11		2012
	Laurence Sterne : The Life and Opinions of Tristram Shandy, Gentleman (illustrated)	Kindle Edition	436910	$3.99		2022
	Tristram Shandy Newly Explained	Kindle Edition	493046	$4.99		2013
	The Life and Opinions of Tristram Shandy, Gentleman: Complete	Paperback	1501357	$16.09		2015
	The Life and Opinions of Tristram Shandy, Gentleman (Annotated)	Paperback	2111413	$21.99		2021
	The Life and Opinions of Tristram Shandy, Gentleman, Vol. 1 (Classic Reprint)	Paperback	418596	$11.97		2016
	The Life and Opinions of Tristram Shandy: Gentleman; Volume I	Hardcover	8918962	$25.95		2019
	Tristram Shandy	MP3 CD	1885377	$14.99		2016
	The Life and Opinions of Tristram Shandy, Gentleman (Everyman Paperbacks)	Hardcover	6261826		$0.39	1975
	The Life and Opinions of Tristram Shandy, Gentleman	Mass Market Paperback	7226110		$1.55	1962
	Tristram Shandy	Paperback	530948	$26.97	$26.94	2017
	Tristram Shandy	Audible Audio Edition	4374	$28.95		2012
	The Life and Opinions of Tristram Shandy, Gentleman Volume 1	Kindle Edition	766807	$8.95		2018
	The Life and Opinions of Tristram Shandy, Gentleman (Illustrated)	Kindle Edition	269637			2014
	The life and opinions of Tristram Shandy, Gentleman	Hardcover	4615659		$19.98
	Tristram Shandy	Audio CD	4468773	$52.16	$63.53
	Tristram Shandy	Audible Audio Edition	39711	$21.83		2017
	The Life and Opinions of Tristram Shandy, Gentleman: Illustrated Platinum Edition (Free Audiobook Included)	Kindle Edition	53104			2015
	The Life and Opinions of Tristram Shandy: By Laurence Sterne - Illustrated	Kindle Edition	1279582			2016
	The Life and Opinions of Tristram Shandy: By Laurence Sterne - Illustrated	Paperback	597991	$11.79		2016
	The Life and Opinions of Tristram Shandy, Gentleman: Color Illustrated, Formatted for E-Readers (Unabridged Version)	Kindle Edition	401740			2015
	THE LIFE AND OPINIONS OF TRISTRAM SHANDY, GENTLEMAN	Hardcover	15460735		$34.65
	Tristram Shandy (Collins Classics)	Paperback	4329737	$28.25	$11.33	2012
	Tristram Shandy	Paperback	402047	$9.21		2013
	The Life and Opinions of Tristram Shandy Gentleman	Kindle Edition	4441612			2018
	The Life and Opinions of Tristram Shandy, Gentleman	Audible Audio Edition	30813	$33.68		2016
	The Life And Opinions Of Tristram Shandy, Gentleman	Hardcover	2792276	$27.99	$6.99	2010
	By Laurence Sterne - The Life and Opinions of Tristram Shandy, Gentleman: A Norton Critical Edition: 1st (first) Edition	Paperback	1478607	$17.81	$3.41	1980
	Tristram Shandy	Mass Market Paperback	8293846		$6.01
	Life and Opinions of Tristram Shandy, The: Gentleman	Hardcover	8556045		$118.00	2002
	The Life and Opinions of Tristram Shandy, Gentleman	Kindle Edition	340918	$0.99		2014
	Tristram Shandy (Classic Fiction)	Audio CD	9230333	$55.50	$35.00
	The Works And Life Of Laurence Sterne: The Life And Opinions Of Tristram Shandy, Gentleman	Hardcover	1169331	$27.95	$34.23	2015
	The Life and Opinions of Tristram Shandy, Gentleman (Oxford World's Classics)	Paperback	1642062	$5.61	$0.01	1998
	Life and Opinions of Tristram Shandy, Gentleman: The Text, Vol, 2 (Florida Edition of the Works of Laurence Sterne)	Hardcover	1717514	$52.96	$66.61	1978
	The Life and Opinions of Tristram Shandy, Gentleman (Annotated)	Paperback	3227752	$23.99		2020
	The Works Of Laurence Sterne: The Life And Opinions Of Tristram Shandy, Gentleman	Hardcover	7368497	$25.95		2015
	The life and opinions of Tristram Shandy, gentleman / by Laurence Sterne (The Modern Library of the world's best books)	Hardcover	8271229		$9.00
	The Life and Opinions of Tristram Shandy, Gentleman	Paperback	4903050	$1,288.85	$230.97	2011
	The Life and Opinions of Tristram Shandy, Gentleman	Paperback	1301775	$13.35	$2.67	2017
	The Life and Opinions of Tristram Shandy, Gentleman	Kindle Edition	197174	$2.99		2020
	Tristram Shandy and A Sentimental Journey (Modern Library)	Hardcover	1103370	$50.54	$20.00	1995
	Tristram Shandy (Collins Classics)	Kindle Edition	484708	$3.49		2012
	Tristram Shandy	Hardcover	5188257	$118.35	$2.49
	The Life and Opinions of Tristram Shandy, Gentleman - Classic Illustrated Edition	Kindle Edition	303717	$0.99		2014
	Tristram Shandy: A BBC Radio 4 Full-Cast Dramatisation	Audible Audiobook	177419	$13.35		2019
	The Life and Opinions of Tristram Shandy, Gentleman (100 Copy Limited Edition)	Hardcover	2135516	$59.95	$79.59	2019
	The Life and Opinions of Tristram Shandy, Gentleman: Life & Opinions of the Gentleman	Kindle Edition	2969347			2018
	The Life and Opinions of Tristram Shandy, Gentleman	Paperback	509487	$7.99		2019
	The Life and Opinions of Tristram Shandy Gentleman	Kindle Edition	386689			2017
	Tristram Shandy	Paperback	1700079		$3.88	2007
	The Life and Opinions of Tristram Shandy, Gentleman	Audible Audiobook	19526	$31.24		2019
	Tristram Shandy (The Modern Library of the World's Best Books)	Hardcover	5166721		$3.00
	The Life and Opinions of Tristram Shandy, Gentleman : The Complete and Unabridged Edition	Paperback	3342847	$8.06	$4.79	2009
	The Life and Opinions of Tristram Shandy, Gentleman by Sterne, Laurence	Hardcover	10070751		$34.93
	Life and Opinions of Tristram Shandy, Gentleman: The Notes, Vol. 3(Florida Edition of the Works of Laurence Sterne)	Hardcover	2599384	$51.76	$50.21	1984
	The Life and Opinions of Tristram Shandy, Gentleman (Vintage Classics)	Paperback	1728739	$9.02		2013
	The Life and Opinions Of The Tristram Shandy, Volume 1	Paperback	7645335	$14.99		2018
	The Life and Opinions of Tristram Shandy, Gentleman (Modern Library Classics)	Paperback	285330	$7.11	$2.50	2004
	Tristram Shandy (Cliffs Notes)	Paperback	2027341	$8.50	$0.01	1968
	The Life and Opinions of Tristram Shandy, Gentleman: Illustrated Edition with Annotated	Paperback	1320033	$13.99		2020
	The Life and Opinions of Tristram Shandy, Gentleman: (with an Introduction by Wilbur L. Cross)	Paperback	304566	$11.99	$14.54	2018
	The Life and Opinions of Tristram Shandy, Gentleman	Hardcover	8438383		$6.40
	By Laurence Sterne - The Life and Opinions of Tristram Shandy, Gentleman (Penguin Classics) (4/27/03)	Paperback	1367667	$13.93	$4.31	2003
	The Life and Opinions of Tristram Shandy, Gentleman (English Library)	Mass Market Paperback	1430094	$3.19	$0.01	1967
	The Life and Opinions of Tristram Shandy, Gentleman [with Biographical Introduction]	Kindle Edition	585039	$3.03		2004
	Tristram Shandy (Everyman's Library)	Hardcover	1528275	$18.53	$7.00	1991
	By Laurence Sterne Tristram Shandy (Norton Critical Editions) (1st Edition)	Paperback	423430	$23.57	$6.50	1905
	Tristram Shandy	Hardcover	1682527		$72.53	1946
	Tristram Shandy	Hardcover	5207043	$14.01	$0.17
	Tristram Shandy and A Sentimental Journey (Modern Library)	Kindle Edition	458445	$2.99		1999
	Tristam Shandy	Hardcover	7590999		$61.00	1950
	Tristram Shandy	Paperback	5175275		$39.56	2006
	The Life and Opinions of Tristram Shandy, Gentleman (Dover Thrift Editions)	Paperback	504853	$2.99	$0.69	2007
	The Life and Opinions of Tristram Shandy, Gentleman (Alma Classics Evergreens)	Paperback	498392	$9.12		2015
	Vida y opiniones del caballero Tristram Shandy (Letras Universales / Universal Writings) (Spanish Edition)	Paperback	834934	$19.31	$6.99	2005
	The Life and Opinions of Tristram Shandy, Gentleman	Kindle Edition	542776	$3.99		2022
	Tristram Shandy	Hardcover	4201431		$3.60
	The Life and Opinions of Tristram Shandy, Gentleman (Signet classics)	Mass Market Paperback	6127270		$1.56	1962
	The Life and Opinions of Tristram Shandy, Gentleman (Modern Library Classics)	Kindle Edition	488246	$12.99		2011
	The Works of Laurence Sterne: With an Account of the Life and Writings of the Author. Volume 1. The Life and Opinions of Tristram Shandy, Gentleman	Paperback	1319364	$26.99		2001
	The Life & Opinions of Tristram Shandy, Gentleman	Hardcover	1871739	$28.95	$33.49	2016
	The Life and Opinions of Tristram Shandy, Gentleman (Slipcover)	Hardcover	2086982		$8.99	1935
	The Life and Opinions of Tristram Shandy, Gentleman (Riverside Editions, B48)	Paperback	5374680	$2,432.64	$0.76
	The Life and Opinions of Tristram Shandy: By Laurence Sterne - Illustrated	Paperback	1704001	$11.99		2017
	The Life and Opinions of Tristram Shandy, Gentleman	Hardcover	2188465	$36.49	$6.27	1997
	Tristram Shandy	Audio CD	594662	$22.35	$22.35	2005
	Tristram Shandy (Classic Fiction)	Audio CD	3589524	$39.37	$24.50	2005
	The Life and Opinions of Tristram Shandy, Gentleman (Penguin Classics)	Paperback	380444	$6.45	$0.01	2003
	Vita e opinioni di Tristram Shandy (Italian Edition)	Kindle Edition	550551	$7.99		2014