A Political Romance

"A Political Romance" by Laurence Sterne is a satirical novel written in the mid-18th century. Set against a backdrop of village life and politics, the book explores themes of social hierarchy, moral integrity, and the absurdity of human behavior through the lens of petty disputes and political allegory. Sterne masterfully uses humor and irony to critique societal norms and the intricate web of relationships that define the political landscape of his time. The narrative centers around a series of comical disputes among characters in a small village, particularly focusing on the interactions between the Parish-Clerk John, the Sexton Trim, and the Parson. The story involves a quarrel over an old watch-coat and a pair of black plush breeches, which serve as metaphors for larger political issues. Trim’s scheming and self-serving nature puts him at odds with John, leading to a humorous yet pointed examination of loyalty, obligation, and the folly of human ambition. Through this whimsical tale, Sterne embodies the complexities of political maneuvering and the often ridiculous nature of such conflicts, making a sharp commentary on the state of affairs in both local and broader political contexts. (This is an automatically generated summary.)

Laurence Sterne was an Anglo-Irish novelist and Anglican cleric who wrote the novels The Life and Opinions of Tristram Shandy, Gentleman and A Sentimental Journey Through France and Italy, published sermons and memoirs, and indulged in local politics. He grew up in a military family, travelling mainly in Ireland but briefly in England. An uncle paid for Sterne to attend Hipperholme Grammar School in the West Riding of Yorkshire, as Sterne's father was ordered to Jamaica, where he died of malaria some years later. He attended Jesus College, Cambridge on a sizarship, gaining bachelor's and master's degrees. While Vicar of Sutton-on-the-Forest, Yorkshire, he married Elizabeth Lumley in 1741. His ecclesiastical satire A Political Romance infuriated the church and was burnt.