# Chapter IX explained — The Life and Opinions of Tristram Shandy, Gentleman

> Chapter companion for The Life and Opinions of Tristram Shandy, Gentleman by Laurence Sterne.

## What happens

Tristram declares his dedication is a 'virgin' one, never offered to any person, and puts it up for public sale at fifty guineas. He describes its artistic merits in painterly terms, offers to replace it with a personalized version in the next edition, and finally dedicates the rest of his book to the Moon.

## Themes in this chapter

### The Absurdity of Systems

Tristram satirizes the conventions of literary dedications and the commercial transactions behind them, treating the dedication as a commodity to be measured and sold.

### Obsession and Hobbyhorses

The 'Hobbyhorse' is mentioned as a secondary figure in the dedication's design, linking to the novel's recurring motif of personal obsessions.

## Character check-ins

### Tristram Shandy

Narrator and author, offering his dedication for sale and addressing the reader directly.

## Key lines

> I solemnly declare to all mankind, that the above dedication was made for no one Prince, Prelate, Pope, or Potentate,⁠—Duke, Marquis, Earl, Viscount, or Baron, of this, or any other Realm in Christendom;⁠⸺⁠nor has it yet been hawked about, or offered publicly or privately, directly or indirectly, to any one person or personage, great or small; but is honestly a true Virgin-Dedication untried on, upon any soul living.

I swear that this dedication was not written for any specific noble or ruler, and has never been offered to anyone; it is a completely unused dedication.

_Tristram emphasizes the novelty and unsold nature of his dedication, setting up his mock auction._

> If therefore there is any one Duke, Marquis, Earl, Viscount, or Baron, in these his Majesty’s dominions, who stands in need of a tight, genteel dedication, and whom the above will suit, (for by the by, unless it suits in some degree, I will not part with it)⁠⸺⁠it is much at his service for fifty guineas;⁠⸺⁠which I am positive is twenty guineas less than it ought to be afforded for, by any man of genius.

If any nobleman wants a stylish dedication that fits him, he can buy this one for fifty guineas—twenty guineas less than it's worth.

_Tristram openly markets his dedication, parodying the commercial side of literary patronage._

> The rest I dedicate to the Moon , who, by the by, of all the Patrons or Matrons I can think of, has most power to set my book a-going, and make the world run mad after it.

The remainder of my book I dedicate to the Moon, which is the best patron to make my book popular and drive the world crazy for it.

_Tristram whimsically dedicates his work to the Moon, invoking a celestial and ironic patron._

## Links

- HTML: https://www.betterreads.online/discover/tristram_shandy_se/chapters/ix
- Book: https://www.betterreads.online/discover/tristram_shandy_se
- All chapters: https://www.betterreads.online/discover/tristram_shandy_se/chapters