The Plot Lines

in:
The Life and Opinions of Tristram Shandy, Gentleman. Oxford World's Classics, 2009. Copy at York Central Library.

The Lines of Digressions

in:
The Life and Opinions of Tristram Shandy, Gentleman. Everyman's Library, 1991 at York Central Library.

The Nose

On Joseph Nollekens Marble bust of Sterne (1766) we see that:

“Nihil me pœnitet hujus nasi,” quoth Pamphagus;——that is—“My nose has been the making of me.”—————“Nec est cur pœniteat,” replies Cocles; that is, “How the duce should such a nose fail?”

The scull

In Coxwold, in the porch at St. Michaels Church, next to the epitaphstone*, we found this framed facsimile clipping from The Times on Thursday June the 5th 1969, on the reburied scull — and nearby found skeletal bones — in Coxwold. One thing further — among many others — for us to ponder upon: Tristrams nose, as well as his fathers — and his great grandfathers, that was shaped like an ace of clubs — was quite diminutive. But what about Sterne? Was he just as flat-nosed?

*)http://sterneetcetera.blogspot.dk/2015/08/sternes-stones.html

The Straight Line

Straight line in: The Life and Opinions of Tristram Shandy MacDonald Illustrated Classics Series.
"This right line,—the path-way for Christians to walk in! say divines——

——The emblem of moral rectitude! says Cicero——

——The best line! say cabbage planters——is the shortest line, says Archimedes, which can be drawn from one given point to another.——

I wish your ladyships would lay this matter to heart, in your next birth-day suits!

——What a journey!

Pray can you tell me,—that is, without anger, before I write my chapter upon straight lines——by what mistake——who told them so——or how it has come to pass, that your men of wit and genius have all along confounded this line, with the line of gravitation?"

MacDonald

In York, in another Antiquarian bookstore — on our way to Coxwold —  we found this edition of The Life and Opinions of Tristram Shandy published in the MacDonald Illustrated Classics Series. 50 pee, only. With cover in red fablea binding, with title and decorations in 'gold leaf' — (Fablea: danish word for leatherine; artificial leather, created of the two english words 'fabric' and 'leather'.  The later discovery of the absent of the title page, explained somehow this a-little-bit-too-good bargain.

The Asses' Club

In the 1897 edition of A Sentimental Journey, that was purchased from a Antiquarian bookstore in York* — on the expeditions way to Coxwold — was found a clipping from a newspaper (1910?)— used as bookmark —  "Our Own Correspondent" reports on a curious dinnerparty in Paris. — The menu in itself: "Potage Cock and Bull; Saucissons de l’Ane Mort; Audouillettes de l’Abesse Dada (hobbyhorse) de l’Oncle Toby; Langue de Samsonnet; Haricots Lafleur; Bombe du Corporal Trim; fromage Sentimental; Marrons Phutatorius. As vines “Clos Yorick” and “Château du Roi de Bohème,” or, in other words, water, were served."  — made us certainly wish, that we could have been able to attend there. Instead we were in York presented for the full english breakfast — "Bless you", said the waitress while serving; fried eggs, bacon; fried sausages; fried portobello; fried tomatoes and — alas — the black sausage. 

*) http://sterneetcetera.blogspot.dk/2015/08/the-sentimental-journey.html.

The Great Grandfather

The expedition to Coxwold also lead us to the Minster of York where we had the the chance to revere Sterne's great grandfather the archbishop Richard Sterne (1596-1683). The memorial are located in the choiraisle and depicts the archbishop in a quite "trés chic" positura. Later that day we attended the evensong in the minster, but that is another — and longer —  story, that might follow. 

The Sentimental Journey

This 1897 edition of A Sentimental Journey, purchased from a Yorkian Antiquarian, announces on the publishers binding, that this is The Sentimental Journey by Laurence Sterne. Though, inside the book the title page states A Sentimental Journey. — "Pox take the fellow!": http://sterneetcetera.blogspot.dk/2015/07/tristam-tristram.html

Sternes stones

When Sterne died in London of consumption, he was buried at the St George’s Field Burial Ground. Two days after the burial, it is said, Sterne’s body was stolen from the grave, and sold to the anatomist at the Cambridge University for dissection. Someone recognised the corpse as being Sterne, in some versions of the story it was a student, in others a friend of the anatomist, in others a member of the public who was paying to see a public dissection. — Sterne’s corpse was discretely returned to St George’s Field, and two years later two freemasons erected this memorial stone near to his original burial place. The text says that although Sterne wasn't a member of their society, he might have been, if just he has lived a bit longer. The stone also states that Sterne died the 13. sep. 1768 — even that Sterne actual died 6 month earlier on the 18. march that year — The stone was in 1969, along with Sternes scull and the nearby found skeletal bones, moved to Coxwold and reburied. The epitaphstone was hanged in the porch at St. Michaels Church in Coxwold.

Ark in York

Recognisable yes, but quite different; our friends ARK back home in Århus has somehow managed to 'gestalt' themself here in York. And there are 50% off. Even. 

http://arkmappen.dk/

Bookstore for rent

On our way to Coxwold the expedition also lead us to York. In Stonegate we found the bookshop where J. Hinxmann —"Successor to the late mr. Hildyard" — in 1759 sold the first copies of The Life and Opinions of Tristram Shandy, Gent. — "Printed on Superfine Writing Paper and a new Letter, In Two Volumes. Five Shillings, neatly bound."
Above the entrance hangs a wooden book "Holy Bible 1682." Otherwise the store looked quite empty, and there will probably open some kind of fashion shop or haberdasher here within so soon.

Reading Sterne

Reading: "Alas, poor YORICK!" in Tristram Shandys levned og meninger 1. danish ed. (Borgen, 1976) at Sternes grave at the churchyard in Coxwold. Actually, it is not the whole corpse of Sterne that is resting here; in 1969 was here reburied, what "as sure as it could be" is Sternes scull and some assorted bones.

A Sentimental Journey en miniature

Lilliput version of A Sentimental Journey, De Prado Publishers (Madrid, 2013) 586 pg. Purchased at the Shandy Hall's bookstore in Coxwold. Ideal for travellers.