Leben und Meinungen von Tristram Shandy, Gentleman

"I wish my father or my mother, or actually both, for both were equally responsible, had considered what they were getting into when they conceived me" – thus begins the novel, the first volume of which was published two hundred and fifty years ago and which has no equal in world literature. With its entire absurdity, its wit, the numerous digressions, deviations, and allusions, and above all the theme of writing itself, it anticipates the avant-garde narrative styles of the 20th century while remaining immensely funny. One learns quite a bit about the hero, his parents, Uncle Toby, and Widow Wadman, about hobbies and about noses. And what is it all about? "About a rooster and a bull," said Yorik – "and about one of the best stories I've ever heard." And with that, the novel concludes.