A Sentimental Journey Through France and Italy

by Laurence Sterne

"A Sentimental Journey Through France and Italy" by Laurence Sterne is a novel published in 1768. It follows the Reverend Mr. Yorick, a character from Sterne's earlier work, on a picaresque journey through France told from a sentimental perspective. The fragmented narrative explores the connection between sympathy and sexual desire through encounters with monks, shop girls, and fellow travelers. Written in response to declining interest in Tristram Shandy, the novel blends travel writing with emotional intensity, leaving readers to question whether Yorick's extreme feelings are sincere or satirical.