On the Road with Penguin Classics

Tristram Shandy with Frank Cottrell Boyce

Feb 18, 2021

In this engaging conversation, Frank Cottrell Boyce, a renowned screenwriter and children's author known for 'A Cock and Bull Story,' joins curator Patrick Wildgust to explore the whimsical world of Laurence Sterne and his 'Tristram Shandy.' They meander through Coxwold, discussing the novel’s innovative narrative style, its humorous quirks, and the personal life of Sterne. The duo highlights the joyful connection between writing and well-being, ultimately celebrating the eccentric charm of both the author and his work.

01:04:01

Creator website

Episode guests

Frank Cottrell-Boyce

Patrick Wildgust

AI Summary

AI Chapters

Episode notes

Podcast summary created with Snipd AI

Quick takeaways

The podcast highlights Laurence Sterne's 'Tristram Shandy' as a groundbreaking narrative that challenges conventional storytelling through its experimental techniques.

Frank Cottrell Boyce connects Sterne's personal struggles with tuberculosis to the urgent themes of birth and mortality threaded throughout 'Tristram Shandy'.

The discussion emphasizes the influential character dynamics, especially between Uncle Toby and Corporal Trim, that provide humor while addressing deeper philosophical themes.

Deep dives

The Legacy of Tristram Shandy

The podcast delves into 'Tristram Shandy', an innovative work by Laurence Sterne that defies traditional narrative structure. It is celebrated for its unique approach to storytelling, focusing less on Tristram's life and more on the complexities of writing itself. Its experimental style has paved the way for numerous authors, making it an influential text in literature. The discussion highlights how Sterne's work resonates with themes of freedom and individuality, reflected in the famous quote about it being a 'liberated book'.

Intro

2min

Exploring 'Tristram Shandy': A Journey Beyond Narration

25min

The Art of Writing and Storytelling

9min

A Conversation in a Charming Room

2min

The Comedic Baptism and Narrative Quirks of Tristram Shandy

19min

The Intricate Life and Works of Lawrence Sterne

9min

The Health Benefits of Reading Tristram Shandy

3min

Laurence Sterne in Coxwold. The screenwriter and children’s author Frank Cottrell Boyce, who wrote the screenplay for A Cock and Bull Story (the 2005 film adaptation of Tristram Shandy), digresses around the little village of Coxwold in North Yorkshire with Henry. They discuss Laurence Sterne’s novel and veer off on various tangents as they meander from St Michael’s Church, where Sterne was perpetual curate, to Shandy Hall, where he wrote most of Tristram Shandy. They meet the curator, Patrick Wildgust, who guides them through the eccentric building.

Penguin Classics edition of Tristram Shandy by Laurence Sterne

https://www.penguin.co.uk/books/60349/the-life-and-opinions-of-tristram-shandy--gentleman/9780141439778.html

Audiobook: https://books.apple.com/gb/audiobook/tristram-shandy-abridged/id1440419496?itsct=books_toolbox&itscg=30200&ct=audio-books_tristram_shandy_%28abridged%29&ls=1

Ebook: https://books.apple.com/gb/book/the-life-and-opinions-of-tristram-shandy-gentleman/id374433539?itsct=books_toolbox&itscg=30200&ct=books_the_life_and_opinions_of_tristram&ls=1

Frank Cottrell Boyce

https://twitter.com/frankcottrell_b

A Cock and Bull Story, dir. Michael Winterbottom

https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0423409/

Cosmic by Frank Cottrell Boyce

https://www.panmacmillan.com/authors/frank-cottrellboyce/cosmic/9781529008777

Shandy Hall & The Laurence Sterne Trust

https://www.laurencesternetrust.org.uk/