Melvyn New Boeken

'Nothing odd will do long', said Dr Johnson; 'Tristram Shandy did not last.' But Tristram Shandy has lasted, to be cherished in the century of Joyce and Pirandello perhaps even more than in the eighteenth. No one description will fit this strange, eccentric, endlessly complex masterpiece. It is a novel about writing a novel in which the invented world is as much infused with wit and genius as the theme of inventing it. It is a joyful celebration of the infinite possibilities of the art of fiction, and a wry demonstration of its limitations. It is also, in Christopher Ricks's words, 'the greatest shaggy dog story in the language'.

The annotated edition of The Correspondents (1775) explores its roots in A Sentimental Journey, showcasing a distinctive blend of sensibility and sensuality reminiscent of Sterne's style. The introduction highlights its significance among later works that attempt to replicate this unique literary approach, making it a notable addition to the genre.