Discover Laurence Sterne’s hilarious and groundbreaking satirical pamphlet, ‘A Political Romance,’ and read the complete work online for free.
Years before he revolutionized the novel with The Life and Opinions of Tristram Shandy, Gentleman, Laurence Sterne, then a Yorkshire clergyman, penned A Political Romance in 1759. This brilliant, bawdy, and allegorical pamphlet was Sterne’s opening salvo in a local ecclesiastical dispute over church appointments and income. Faced with what he saw as the greed and hypocrisy of his superiors, Sterne did not write a dry legal brief. Instead, he created a razor-sharp satire that uses the simple metaphor of an old coat being fought over to lay bare the petty, self-serving politics of the Church of England’s hierarchy.
The “romance” of the title is deeply ironic. The story is a mock-allegory in which a dispute over the ownership and alterations of an old coat (representing a church living, or benefice) escalates into an absurd legal battle involving the parish, the churchwardens, and a host of ridiculous officials. Sterne populates his tale with thinly veiled caricatures of his real-life opponents, lampooning their vanity, legalistic nitpicking, and moral blindness. The prose is witty, playful, and filled with the digressive, suggestive style that would become his trademark in Tristram Shandy.
A Political Romance was so effective—and so offensive to the powerful men it mocked—that it was quickly suppressed and almost all copies were burned. Only a few survived, making it a literary rarity. Its importance is twofold: as a devastatingly funny piece of satire in its own right, and as the vital creative spark that launched Sterne’s career. Frustrated by the pamphlet’s suppression, he turned his satirical eye and revolutionary narrative techniques to a larger canvas, and Tristram Shandy was born. To read the Romance is to witness the moment one of literature’s great iconoclasts first flexed his muscles.
On this page, you can enjoy this foundational work of Sterne’s genius. We offer the complete 1759 text for online reading.
Book Info
| Detail | Information |
|---|---|
| Title | A Political Romance |
| Author | Laurence Sterne |
| Year of Publication | 1759 (privately printed, then suppressed) |
| Genre | Satire, Pamphlet, Allegory |
| Language | English (Original) |
| Legal Status | Public Domain |
| Format | Online Reading |
Read A Political Romance Online
Delve into a quarrel over a very contentious coat. Begin Laurence Sterne’s first great satire by exploring its opening pages interactively below.
This preview introduces the allegorical dispute, but the full, hilarious escalation of the battle and Sterne’s brilliant mock-legalistic style are available in the complete pamphlet for our subscribers.
A subscription unlocks this rare Sterne gem and our extensive library of satire and 18th-century literature. See where the Shandean universe began.
About A Political Romance
The pamphlet is a masterclass in using humor as a weapon. Sterne takes a complex, dry legal and ecclesiastical dispute and reduces it to its essential absurdity through a perfectly chosen domestic metaphor.
The Allegory of the Coat
The central metaphor is flawless:
- The Old Coat: A church living (a parish appointment with its income).
- The Original Owner: The previous vicar.
- The New Owner & His Wife: Sterne and his wife (the coat doesn’t fit perfectly, i.e., the income is insufficient).
- The Alterations & Trimmings: Legal claims and perks associated with the living.
- The Lawsuit: The ecclesiastical court battle over these rights.
By framing a spiritual institution’s dispute in terms of a squabble over a garment, Sterne exposes the worldly, materialistic concerns masquerading as religious principle.
The Birth of the Shandean Style
Here we see the early flashes of Sterne’s revolutionary narrative technique:
- Digressions: He interrupts the coat story with asides, mock-scholarly references, and personal remarks.
- Playful Typography: Uses dashes, asterisks, and unusual formatting for comic effect.
- Bawdy Innuendo: The coat metaphor is ripe with double entendre (e.g., discussions of its “lining,” “pockets,” and “wearing”).
- Addressing the Reader: He directly engages the reader, creating complicity and acknowledging the fictional game.
Satirical Targets
Sterne mocks:
- Church Corruption: The greed and careerism of church officials.
- Legal Pedantry: The way law obscures common sense and justice.
- Human Vanity: The self-importance of all parties involved in the dispute.
- Local Politics: The gossip and factionalism of a small community (York).
The Suppression and Its Consequence
The pamphlet’s suppression is a key part of its story. The authorities recognized its potency and tried to erase it. This act of censorship likely convinced Sterne that the novel—a less directly libelous form—could be a vehicle for his subversive humor and philosophical play. Thus, a local squabble over a coat indirectly gave birth to one of the most innovative novels in the English language.
Why Read A Political Romance Today?
It is first and foremost extremely funny. Sterne’s wit is timeless. The satire on bureaucracy, petty officialdom, and the disguising of self-interest as high principle is as relevant to modern institutions as it was to the 18th-century church.
For lovers of Tristram Shandy, it is essential reading. It is the prototype, the laboratory where Sterne first combined satire, irony, allegory, and playful narrative disorder. To read A Political Romance is to have the unique pleasure of discovering a great writer’s first, suppressed, and explosively creative masterpiece.
FAQ
Can I read A Political Romance for free?
Yes, you can read the beginning for free via our interactive preview. Access to the complete pamphlet requires a subscription.
Why is it called a “Romance”?
The term is used ironically. In the 18th century, a “romance” could mean a fictional narrative. Sterne is mockingly elevating his petty local dispute to the level of a grand, allegorical tale.
Do I need to know the historical details to enjoy it?
Not at all. The coat allegory is completely self-sufficient and hilarious on its own. Knowing the real-life context adds a layer, but the satire of greed and hypocrisy is universal.
How is this related to Tristram Shandy?
It shares the same voice: witty, digressive, self-aware, and obsessed with the absurdities of human systems and the body. Uncle Toby’s hobby-horse has its precursor in the obsessive focus on the coat’s trimmings.
Can I read it on my phone?
Easily. It is a short work, perfect for a single, delightful reading session on any device.