Works of Laurence Sterne

1808. STERNE, Laurence. The Works of Laurence Sterne. London: J. Johnson, T. Becket, et al., 1808. Four volumes. Octavo, early 20th-century full brown morocco gilt, each front cover decorated with multi-colored morocco inlays depicting illustrations within, raised bands, marbled endpapers, all edges gilt. $4000.Early 19th-century illustrated edition of Sterne's works, with 29 engraved illustrations and vignette section titles as issued, this set extra-illustrated with an additional 14 engravings, six finely hand-colored. Four volumes beautifully bound in the Kelliegram style by Bayntun with color pictorial morocco inlays on each volume's front cover.Tristram Shandy's huge popular success made Sterne, a Yorkshire parson, the toast of the London literary world. ""Sterne is generally acknowledged as an innovator of the highest originality, and has been seen as the chief begetter of a long line of writers interested in the 'stream-of-consciousness'"" (Drabble, 937). Among these must be numbered Joyce, who wrote regarding Finnegan's Wake, ""I, after all, am trying to tell the story of this Chapelizod family in a new way… Only I am trying to build many planes of narrative with a single esthetic purpose. Did you ever read Laurence Sterne?"" (Ellman, 554). Sterne ""revolutionized the novel. He was the first to change it from a mere mirror of life to a subjective romance. He stems from Cervantes… Rasselas and Candide are both among the relatives of Tristram Shandy; but Sterne alone took the final step… He made the novel personal, subtle, free"" (Kunitz & Haycraft, 495-96). In addition to Tristram Shandy, this set includes The Sermons of Mr. Yorick, A Sentimental Journey, and Sterne's letters and autobiographical memoir. Spine ends on two volumes expertly repaired. A beautifully bound and illustrated set in fine condition.