Don Quixote:1605 & 1615
Don Quixote Part 1, was published in 1605 in Spain in Spanish. Don Quixote, part 2, was published in Spain, in Spanish, as well.
Don Quixote was, originally, published in Spanish, but Part 1 was first translated to English in 1912, with Part 2 following in the year 1920. There have been many other English translations since those dates. The original text was written by Miguel de Cervantes. The novel is about a country gentleman, who lives in Spain and devotes his time to studying medieval romance stories. Quixote becomes so consumed with the knights and their chivalry that he imagines himself as knight who sets out to regain the chivalry that has been lost in his own society.
Don Quixote is very significant throughout Tristram Shandy and to Laurence Sterne, as well, being one of his favorite books. Sterne makes many references to the novel, Don Quixote, and his horse throughout Tristram Shandy. Don Quixote’s author, Cervantes, influenced Sterne substantially in his own writing and Sterne even refers to him as ‘my beloved Cervantes’ within Tristram Shandy. Understanding Sterne’s admiration for Cervantes and love of the story of Don Quixote helps us to understand its numerous references within his own novel.
Siege of Namur:1692 & July 2- September 1, 1695
According to the explanatory notes in the back of Tristram Shandy, Namur was a citadel (castle), located at the confluence of the Sambre and Meuse rivers, south-east of Brussels. Namur was taken on 2 separate occasions, once by the French in 1692 and again in 1695. The second time Namur was captured, in 1695, it was taken back from the French by the allied forces under the reign of William III in England. These captures of Namur were, both, part of the Nine Years War (1688-1697) between the French and the English, who had multiple other allied countries supporting them. When the allied forces were finally able to gain back the citadel, it was at great cost and did not offer them a decisive military advantage.
During the second siege, under William III, is when Uncle Toby suffered his groin injury. This event is important to understanding the novel because it helps us to comprehend the background behind Uncle Toby’s injury and interpret this important aspect of his character. Not only that, but this event helps us to better understand Uncle Toby’s obsession with war, which in turn, gives us a glimpse of how Sterne, as well as, society at the time of Sterne’s writing, viewed war.
Treaty of Utrecht (Peace of Utrecht):April 11, 1713
The treaties of Utrecht actually covered a period from April 1713 until September 1714, in which there were several treaties enacted between France and other European countries, such as Britain, as well as, treaties between Spain and other countries to end the War of the Spanish Succession. However, April 11, 1713 was when the treaty between France and England was signed, which is most relevant to Tristram Shandy. According to the Britannica website, under the treaty, France recognized Queen Anne as the British sovereign, gave them some territory, including the Hudson Bay and Nova Scotia, as well as, promised the demolition of Dunkirk because of its use as a base for attacks on English and Dutch shipping.
This event is significant because this treaty is what aids in putting an end to Uncle Toby’s hobby-horse. Once this war is over, Uncle Toby and Trim have no more battles to mimic in their recreation of the battlefield. Not only that, but this series of treaties help us to understand the constant state of war that was ensuing around the English at the time. The understanding of how prevalent conflict was during Sterne’s time is significant in helping us to comprehend Sterne’s intent and reasoning behind creating a character, like Uncle Toby, that is so absorbed in war.
Minister at York:July 29, 1750
On this day, Sterne preached a sermon with a multitude of supporters, including Voltaire. After this the sermon was published and influential to sermons by parson Yorick in Tristram Shandy. Later, in 1760, Sterne published "The Abuses of Conscience" in "The Sermons of Parson Yorick," further adding to the depth and realism of the character parson Yorick. It's clear that Sterne was greatly influenced by the act of sermon writing and integrated into his novel, eventually publishing more sermons under the pseudonym "Mr. Yorick," once again pulling from and feeding into Tristram Shandy. Sterne's life and Tristram Shandy are linked in multiple ways and sermon writing is just one example of that.
Sterne Visits France:January 1762
In January 1762 Sterne visited France in an attempt to combat his disease consumption. Volume seven of Tristram Shandy, which showcases Tristram in France, is heavily influenced by Sterne's own experience in France and draws on many of his personal experiences. Clearly without Sterne traveling to France in 1762 Tristram's own adventure would not have happened because before this volume Tristram had been building up his uncle Toby's romance but abruptly interrupts it with the stories of his travels. The similarities also relate to the health of the two, Sterne heads to France to help his consumption and Tristram comments on his "vile cough."
Abolition Passage:July 27, 1766
According to Carey, In 1766 the topic of slavery was heated with people on both sides of the debate. On July 27, 1766 Sterne puts a scene describing the plight of a young slave girl into Tristram Shandy, advocating for abolition. The debate over slavery by no means nearing an end at this time, Sterne's inclusion of this passage becomes popular for its abolitionist tone. Sterne was not the only one who considered the increasing debates of slavery an important topic as soon after he wrote this passage, Sterne received a letter from a man named Ignatius Sancho imploring him to use his literary influence to speak against slavery. Sterne's response letter became widely acknowledged as am aid for abolitionist literature, as well as the passage in Tristram Shandy itself.
Carey, Brycchan. "‘The Extraordinary Negro’: Ignatius Sancho, Joseph Jekyll, and the Problem of Biography." Journal for Eighteenth-Century Studies26.1 (2003): 1-13. Web.
Sterne, Laurence, and Ian Campbell. Ross. The Life and Opinions of Tristram Shandy, Gentleman. Oxford: Oxford UP, 1983. Print.
Britannica, Encyclopedia. "Treaties of Utrecht | European History." Encyclopedia Britannica Online. Encyclopedia Britannica, 16 Jan. 2014. Web. 1 Feb. 2015.
Sterne, Laurence. The Life and Opinions of Tristram Shandy, Gentleman. Champaign, Ill.: Project Gutenberg, 199. Print.
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