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A Sentimental Journey Through France And Italy

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A Sentimental Journey Through France And Italy

By: Laurence Sterne
Narrated by: Walter Covell
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About this listen

 Sterne is one of the most original and unexpected of writers, and A Sentimental Journey differs from other travel books as greatly as Tristram Shandy differs from other novels. Sterne travelled in France during the 1760s and drew on his experiences to write the narrative of Mr. Yorick, the Sentimental Traveller. Mr Yorick follows his Sensibility and finds pleasure in everything he does, in contrast to contemporary travel writers, Tobias Smollett in particular, whom Sterne satirizes in the figure of 'Smelfungus'.

Sterne did not live to complete the part on Italy. He called it a "sentimental" journey because the point of travel was not to see sights or visit art collections, but to make meaningful contact with people. Yorick succeeds, but in every adventure, his ego or inappropriate desires and impulses get in the way of "sentimental commerce." The result is a light-hearted comedy of moral sentiments. Abroad Sterne became the "high priest of sentimentalism," and as such had a profound impact upon continental letters in the second half of the 18th century.

©1990 Jimcin Recordings (P)1990 Jimcin Recordings European Literary History & Criticism Travel Writing & Commentary World Literature
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Was very pleased when I discoved this only to be as equally disappointed upon discovering it narrated with an American accent. To have the part of a 18th century Englishman played by a chap from Rhode Island is just idiotic. Beyond that he reads Sterne's light and playful prose in lifeless monotone adding insult to injury.

shame on you

Ruined by American accent

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