Slawkenbergius's Tale
A stranger with an extraordinarily large nose arrives in Strasburg, claiming to have visited the Promontory of Noses. His unusual appearance sparks curiosity and debate among the townspeople, including a sentinel, a drummer, and a trumpeter's wife, who all speculate about the nature and size of his nose. The stranger, valuing his nose highly, vows that it shall not be touched, which only intensifies the townspeople's fascination. As the stranger departs for Frankfort, the news of his nose spreads rapidly, causing a frenzy in Strasburg. The townsfolk, unable to focus on their daily lives, become consumed by the desire to see and touch the stranger's nose. This obsession leads to chaos, with various groups, including religious orders and scholars, engaging in heated discussions and debates about the nose's authenticity and implications. The narrative shifts to the scholarly community, where doctors and logicians argue over the nature of the nose, its size, and its existence. Their discussions become increasingly convoluted, leading to absurd conclusions about the limits of nature and the attributes of God. Meanwhile, the townspeople remain restless, eagerly awaiting the stranger's return. On the promised day of his return, the entire city prepares to greet him, with a grand procession organized to welcome him back. However, unbeknownst to them, the stranger has already left for Valadolid, where he is reunited with Julia, a woman he loves. Her brother, Diego, has been searching for him, and upon receiving a letter from Julia, he sets out to find the stranger. As the Strasburgers wait in vain, their curiosity ultimately leads to their downfall. The French seize the opportunity to invade the city while its citizens are distracted by their obsession with the stranger's nose. The tale concludes with a reflection on the folly of curiosity and the consequences of allowing such desires to overshadow reason and duty. The narrative serves as a satirical commentary on human nature, societal obsession, and the absurdity of prioritizing trivial matters over significant issues.
By Laurence Sterne · First published 1760 · Genre: Satire, Fantasy, Comedy · 9,184 words
First lines
It was one cool refreshing evening, at the close of a very sultry day, in the latter end of the month of August, when a stranger, mounted upon a dark mule, with a small cloak-bag behind him, containing a few shirts, a pair of shoes, and a crimson-sattin pair of breeches, entered the town of Strasburg.
He told the sentinel, who questioned him as he entered the gates, that he had been at the Promontory of Noses -- was going on to Frankfort -- -- -and should be back again at Strasburg that day month, in his way to the borders of Crim Tartary.
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Slawkenbergius's Tale is listed on Textopian as a novella by Laurence Sterne, dated 1760 CE.
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- Work type: Novella
- Author: Laurence Sterne
- Date: 1760 CE
- Language: English
- Genres: Satire, Fantasy, Comedy, Philosophical Fiction, Adventure
- Length: 9,184 words
- Structure: 1 section, 177 paragraphs
- Reading fit: Difficult (College Level)
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- The Angel Of The Odd by Edgar Allan Poe
Genres
- Satire — The book employs humor and exaggeration to critique societal norms and human behavior, particularly regarding vanity and curiosity.
- Fantasy — The narrative includes fantastical elements, such as the absurdity of a nose causing widespread chaos and the mythical Promontory of Noses.
- Comedy — The story is structured around comedic situations and misunderstandings, highlighting the ridiculousness of the characters' obsessions.
- Philosophical Fiction — The text explores themes of identity, perception, and the nature of truth through the absurdity of the nose's significance.
Tags
Satire · Social Commentary · Picaresque · Autobiographical Elements · Metafiction · Self-Referential · Irony · Humor · Absurdity · Philosophical Themes · Existentialism · Critique of Society