Definition

Proper noun: * Laurence Sterne: An 18th-century English writer of Irish birth, renowned for his innovative and influential novels. He is best known for his eccentric, sentimental, and metafictional style.

Usage

• Laurence Sterne is primarily used as a proper noun to refer to the historical literary figure. It is used in discussions of English literature, literary history, and the novel as a form.
  • The works of Laurence Sterne are considered precursors to modernist narrative techniques.
  • My thesis focuses on the use of satire in Laurence Sterne's major novel.

Advanced Usage

• The name can be used attributively to describe characteristics of his work or literary style.
  • The novel employs a Sterne-esque digressive structure.
  • His writing has a distinctly Sternean sensibility, blending humor and pathos.

Variants and Related Words

• Shandean (adj): Pertaining to or characteristic of Laurence Sterne or his novel . It often describes something that is digressive, whimsical, or convoluted in a humorous way.
  • The essay's Shandean narrative mirrors its subject's chaotic thought process.

Synonyms

• The Author of Tristram Shandy: A common periphrastic reference.
• The Author of A Sentimental Journey: Another reference focusing on his other major work.

Related Phrases and Contexts

• In the tradition of Sterne: Used to describe literary works that follow his innovative, digressive, and self-referential style.
  • The contemporary novel, with its fragmented chapters and authorial intrusions, is clearly in the tradition of Sterne.

Noun

1. English writer (born in Ireland) (1713-1766)