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Tristram Shandy  By  cover art

Tristram Shandy

By: Laurence Sterne
Narrated by: John Moffatt
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Publisher's summary

Tristram Shandy is an ironic masterpiece, a work of extraordinary originality, wit, and learning. It is a work of considerable philosophical complexity but at the same time it is just a piece of flim-flam; it has been called the longest shaggy dog story in English literature. It is both a classic novel and an anti-novel. It includes passages of seemingly serious theology - but it can also be read as an elaborate bawdy joke.

Public Domain (P)2009 Naxos

What listeners say about Tristram Shandy

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  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars

Excellent comic novel, superbly read!

Okay, so I know many of you aren't fans of the 18th-century novel, but this one is different. Sterne has written one of the funniest pieces of fiction of all time. Also, if you are fond of beautifully crafted sentences, you won't find any better in the language. The reader, James Moffat (sp?), knows how to exploit the rhythm and flow of those sentences and his comic timing is impecable. When I read this novel 20 years ago, I thought it was one of the best "reads" I had ever experienced. In Moffat's hands. it becomes one of the best "listens," as well.

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34 people found this helpful

  • Overall
    3 out of 5 stars

Quirky, eccentric, intellectual fun

Although I gave this listen three stars, I think I liked it more than that because it was so quirky. The reader is very good and captures the eccentricity of the British male upper class view of the world in the 18th century quite well. If you like dead-pan take-offs on British empiricism, utilitarianism, and male chauvanism you will probably find this odd-ball "biography" entertaining.

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5 people found this helpful

  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars

A laugh howl for well read types

This was great-- would love the full version at some future date.

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3 people found this helpful

  • Overall
    4 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    4 out of 5 stars
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    4 out of 5 stars

Was there ever a novel you wish you had read?

Would you recommend this audiobook to a friend? If so, why?

This was a great text which I always intended to read but never had the time. If this is true for you too, audible is the way to go.

What other book might you compare Tristram Shandy to and why?

The obvious one is Fielding's 'Tom Jones' they are both bildungromans from the 18th century, but Defoe's 'Moll Flanders' is the most comparable to Sterne from my perspective

Which scene was your favorite?

I like the idea that a person's name influences their life and the way they view the world.

If you were to make a film of this book, what would be the tag line be?

I think it has already been called a

Any additional comments?

Audible books are a great way to read books you always wanted to read but didn't have the time.

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1 person found this helpful