Chapter XXXV explained

What happens

Themes in this chapter

• Obsession and Hobbyhorses

  Walter Shandy's passionate and somewhat irrational pursuit of books on noses exemplifies his hobbyhorse, as he buys Bruscambille impulsively and later cools in his enthusiasm.

Characters to notice

• Walter Shandy

  My father, who eagerly collects books on noses, starting with Bruscambille's prologue and later adding more works.

Key passages

• “My father’s collection was not great, but to make amends, it was curious; and consequently he was some time in making it; he had the great good fortune however, to set off well, in getting Bruscambille’s prologue upon long noses, almost for nothing—for he gave no more for Bruscambille than three half-crowns; owing indeed to the strong fancy which the stall-man saw my father had for the book the moment he laid his hands upon it.”

  Walter's collection of books was small but unusual, and he took a while to assemble it. He was lucky to start with a bargain: Bruscambille's prologue on long noses, which he bought for just three half-crowns because the seller noticed his eagerness.

  Highlights Walter's initial luck and the stall-man's opportunistic pricing.

• “My father flung down the money as quick as lightning—took Bruscambille into his bosom—hied home from Piccadilly to Coleman -street with it, as he would have hied home with a treasure, without taking his hand once off from Bruscambille all the way.”

  Walter paid instantly, clutched the book to his chest, and hurried home from Piccadilly to Coleman Street as if carrying a treasure, never letting go of it.

  Emphasizes Walter's intense attachment to the book.

• “To those who do not yet know of which gender Bruscambille is—inasmuch as a prologue upon long noses might easily be done by either—’twill be no objection against the simile—to say, That when my father got home, he solaced himself with Bruscambille after the manner in which, ’tis ten to one, your worship solaced yourself with your first mistress—that is, from morning even unto night: which, by the by, how delightful soever it may prove to the inamorato—is of little or no entertainment at all to bystanders.”

  For those unsure of Bruscambille's gender, the narrator compares Walter's enjoyment of the book to a man's infatuation with his first mistress—absorbing him from morning to night, though boring to onlookers.

  Uses a humorous simile to describe Walter's obsessive reading.

• “Take notice, I go no farther with the simile—my father’s eye was greater than his appetite—his zeal greater than his knowledge—he cool’d—his affections became divided—he got hold of Prignitz—purchased Scroderus, Andrea Paræus, Bouchet’s Evening Conferences, and above all, the great and learned Hafen Slawkenbergius; of which, as I shall have much to say by and by—I will say nothing now.”

  The narrator stops the simile, noting that Walter's enthusiasm exceeded his actual interest. He cooled off and his attention split, leading him to acquire more books by Prignitz, Scroderus, Andrea Paræus, Bouchet, and especially Slawkenbergius, which will be discussed later.

  Shows Walter's waning obsession and his expanding collection.