Laurence Sterne: Abolitionist

Laurence Sterne and Anti-Slavery Opinion

Laurence Sterne was in a unique position as an abolitionist: he was an extremely popular author. His book, The Life and Opinions of Tristram Shandy, Gentlemen, went through over 14 editions! Undoubtedly, Sterne was able to use his popularity to speak out against slavery. He wrote numerous letters and editorials, and was able to utilize the growing genre of the novel to share his opinions on the subject. Sterne had connections with other well-known persons, including Ignatius Sancho. In fact, some of Sancho's widely-read letters were written to Sterne:

"Of all my favorite authors, not one has drawn a tear in favor of my miserable black brethren- excepting yourself, and the humane author of Sir George Ellison. I think you will forgive me; I am sure you will applaud me for beseeching you to give one half-hour's attention to slavery, as it is practised in our West Indies. That subject, handled in your striking manner, would ease the yoke (perhaps) of many- but if only of one!" (100)

Sancho's letter tells us a few things about Sterne. For instance, he is one of a few well-known writers who openly condemned slavery. Also, Sancho, as well as many readers, held Sterne in high esteem for his writing. Not only could Sterne speak out against slavery in his own writing, but when Sancho's letters were published, Sterne's position on the issue would be even more well-known.. Two popular and respected men openly condemning slavery must have made a tremendous impact on the common person's opinions on the subject.

Laurence Sterne (99)

Sancho mentions that Sterne is one of the few authors to criticize slavery. His most popular book, Tristram Shandy, makes several references to products produced by slaves. But, he also makes an explicit statement on the institution:

Tell me then, my dear brother Shandy, upon which of them it is, that when I condemned the peace of Utrecht,
and grieved the war was not carried on with vigour a little longer, you should think your brother did it upon
unworthy views; or that in wishing for war, he should be bad enough to wish more of his fellow-creatures
slain,--more slaves made, and more families driven from their peaceful habitations, merely for his own
pleasure:--Tell me, brother Shandy, upon what one deed of mine do you ground it? (101)

Sterne attacks the treaty of Utrecht (see introduction), which gave rise to the English slave trade, and asserts that slavery is for the slave owner's own pleasure. The rise of the novel as a popular medium allowed Sterne to disseminate his antislavery opinions widely, and given his enormous popularity, it is conceivable that he influenced many English readers.

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