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Tristram Shandy, or The Life and Opinions of Tristram Shandy, Gentleman, is a novel by Laurence Sterne, published in nine volumes from 1759 to 1767
. It presents itself as the autobiography of Tristram Shandy, who attempts to recount his life but is perpetually sidetracked by digressions, humor, and eccentricities. The novel is a satire of the autobiography genre and a commentary on the nature of fiction and the act of writing. It is considered a precursor to modernist and postmodern literature.Explore a plot summary, a complete list of characters, and suggested essay topics.