Laurence Sterne
Irish author
Laurence Sterne Rank
About Laurence Sterne
Laurence Sterne was an Irish novelist and an Anglican clergyman, known for his sermons and comic-satire novels.
Education
Sterne started school at Hipperholme Grammar school at Halifax while with his uncle Richard. He then graduated from Jesus College with Bachelor and Master of Arts in 1737 and 1740, respectively.
Family and Health
Sterne never saw his father again after leaving him at Roger’s. His wife and daughter were sick. Both his uncle and mother passed on when he was writing in 1759 while he also battled with poor health.
Early Parish Career
He was a deacon in 1737 and a priest the following year, and after assuming other posts in the church, he went into political journalism on the advice of his uncle Dr Jaquez Stern.
Writing
Sterne wrote mostly letters at the onset of his writing career. Some of his major works were characterized by satire and supplementary pages for sermons and essays among others.
He authored his first satire “A Political Romance” in 1759 which raised controversies within his church, resulting in the book subsequently burnt at the York Minster. But that was when he realized he could write, and proceeded to release his well-acclaimed novel, “The Life and Opinions of Tristram Shandy, Gentleman” in 1759.
He also wrote “A Sentimental Journey through France and Italy” and “Journal to Eliza” as well as volumes of sermons that had several copies published and sold in his lifetime and posthumously.
Legacy
Sterne agitated for the abolition of the Trans-Atlantic Slave Trade with his writings in 1766 when the former slave Ignatius Sancho entreated him to.
His style of writing influenced writers like Brazilian Machado de Assis and Europeans Denis Diderot and German Romanticists.Laurence Sterne Rank
Laurence Sterne photo gallery
F.A.Q. about Laurence Sterne
When is his birthday?
Laurence Sterne's birthday is on November 24, 1713.
In how many days is his birthday?
Laurence's birthday is in 241 days
How old was Laurence when he died?
He was 54 years old.
When did he die?
He died in March 18, 1768.
How old would he be today?
Laurence Sterne would be 310 years old if he was alive today.
Where was Laurence from?
He was born in Clonmel, County Tipperary, Ireland.