The History of Literature 793 The Secret Order of Shandeans: Laurence Sterne in Early Soviet Russia (with Peter Budrin) | My Last Book with Edward Watts
Apr 16, 2026
Peter Budrin, a literary scholar who studies 18th-century reception, discusses Laurence Sterne’s surprising popularity in 1920s Soviet Russia. Edward Watts, historian and author, stops by to name the last book he’d read. They explore Sterne’s conversational style, why his works resurged amid upheaval, and how secret networks of readers found solace and individuality in his writing.
AI Snips
Chapters
Books
Transcript
Episode notes
Sterne Offered Inner Freedom Amid Soviet Upheaval
- Laurence Sterne's blend of digression and direct address created a sense of individual freedom that appealed across political divides in 1920s Russia.
- Peter Budrin argues Soviet readers embraced Sterne as a vehicle for inner liberty and narrative experimentation during social upheaval.
Sterne Exemplifies 18th Century Literary Transition
- Budrin sees the 18th century as a transitional moment when modern literary institutions and genres crystallized.
- He argues Sterne exemplifies that transition by blending classical learning with emerging modern narrative forms.
Sterne's Ambiguity Is A Deliberate Shock Mechanism
- Sterne's writing intentionally shocks by mixing melancholic passages with provocative jokes, making his intent ambiguous and unpredictable.
- Budrin credits this ambivalence for Sterne's power to frustrate and engage readers simultaneously.
