Sterne

stern, Laurence (1713-1768), an English novelist. A soldier's son, he was born in Flanders and followed the regiment until he was placed at school in Halifax, Yorkshire. He was educated at Cambridge, England, for the church. He was a quiet country clergyman for twenty years. Two books have made him famous. Tristram Shandy, drawn from boyish observations in his father's regiment, is a story of Corporal Trim and Uncle Toby, a delightful combination of characters. A Sentimental Journey gives his observations on a journey through France and Italy. Sterne was a humorist and had a delicate touch, but inasmuch as his works partook of the coarseness of the time, he is grouped in that respect with Fielding and Smollett. "God tempers the wind to the shorn lamb," is credited to him. See Smollett; Richardson; Fielding

The accusing spirit, which flew up to heaven's chancery with the oath, blushed as he gave it in; and the recording angel as he wrote it down dropped a tear upon the word and blotted it out forever.--Tristram Shandy.