Character guide

Tristram Shandy

major

Also known as Mr. Tristram Shandy, Tristram - gistus

The narrator and protagonist, whose life and opinions form the book's chaotic structure.

Uncle Toby

major

Also known as Toby, Mr. Toby Shandy, Toby Shandy, brother Toby, Tobias

Tristram's gentle, war-obsessed uncle, known for his hobby-horse of fortifications.

Corporal Trim

supporting

Also known as Trim, poor Trim, Mr. Trim

Uncle Toby's loyal and loquacious former servant, a key figure in the Shandy household.

Mr. Yorick

supporting

Also known as Yorick, poor Yorick, parson Yorick

The witty and unfortunate parson, a friend of the Shandy family and a stand-in for Sterne.

Dr. Slop

supporting

Also known as Doctor Slop, Slop, good Dr. Slop

The bumbling, opinionated man-midwife who delivers Tristram with disastrous results.

Mrs. Shandy

supporting

Also known as Mrs. Shandy, Shandy

Tristram's mother, often silent but a crucial foil to her husband's philosophical rants.

Walter Shandy

major

Also known as Walter, the said Walter Shandy

Tristram's father, a man of elaborate theories and frustrated intellectual ambitions.

Obadiah

supporting

Also known as Obadiah tonight

The Shandy family's slow-witted but loyal servant, often sent on errands.

Susannah

supporting

Also known as Susy

The Shandys' maid, involved in the chaotic events of Tristram's birth and childhood.

Bridget

minor

Also known as Mrs. Bridget, Mrs. Bridget

Mrs. Wadman's maid, who has a romantic subplot with Corporal Trim.

Mrs. Wadman

supporting

Also known as widow Wadman, Wadman, Unhappy Mrs. Wadman

The widow who pursues Uncle Toby romantically, leading to comic misunderstandings.

Eugenius

minor

A friend of Yorick and Tristram, often offering wise or ironic commentary.

Phutatorius

minor

A pompous and learned churchman involved in a memorable hot chestnut incident.

Didius

minor

Also known as Brother Didius

A scholarly church lawyer who debates with Walter and others.

Kysarcius

minor

A pedantic scholar who participates in learned debates on noses and baptism.

Le Fever

minor

Also known as lieutenant Le Fever, young Le Fever

A dying lieutenant whose son is taken in by Uncle Toby and Trim.

Hafen Slawkenbergius

minor

Also known as Slawkenbergius

A fictional German author whose treatise on noses is a running joke.

Diego

minor

A mysterious stranger with a large nose, central to Slawkenbergius's tale.

Maria

minor

Also known as poor Maria, Marie de Sévigné

A mad, grief-stricken peasant girl encountered by Tristram on his travels.

Gymnast

minor

A character in a comic tale, known for his agility and wit.

Widow Wadman

minor

Alternate name for Mrs. Wadman, the amorous neighbor of Uncle Toby.

La Fosseuse

minor

A French maid in a tale, involved in a comic misunderstanding.

Prignitz

minor

A German scholar cited in learned debates about noses.

Scroderus

minor

A learned authority on noses, quoted in the book's scholarly digressions.

Gastripheres

minor

A character in a learned debate, known for his gluttony.

Ernulphus

minor

A bishop whose elaborate curse is quoted at length in the book.

Tickletoby

minor

A character in a comic anecdote, possibly a pun on a hobby-horse.

Amandus

minor

A character in a romantic tale, part of a digression on love.

Amanda

minor

A character in a romantic tale, paired with Amandus.

Dolly

minor

A servant or minor female character mentioned in passing.

Jenny

minor

A woman mentioned in Tristram's narrative, possibly a love interest.

Dinah

minor

A relative of the Shandy family, mentioned in a scandalous anecdote.

Bobby

minor

Also known as Bob, Robin

Tristram's older brother, whose death is a major event in the narrative.

Captain Shandy

minor

Another name for Uncle Toby, reflecting his military past.

The Stranger

minor

A mysterious figure in Slawkenbergius's tale, with a prodigious nose.

The Courteous Stranger

minor

A polite traveler in a digression, embodying comic courtesy.

The Master of the Inn

minor

An innkeeper encountered during Tristram's travels in France.

The Lady Baussiere

minor

Also known as Lady Baussiere

A French noblewoman mentioned in a comic anecdote.

The Lady Carnavallette

minor

A minor character in a French travel anecdote.

La Maronette

minor

Also known as Maronette

A French woman in a comic story about a nose.

La Rebours

minor

A character in a French anecdote, known for her backward ways.

La Guyol

minor

A minor French character in a digression.

Margarita

minor

Also known as Mademoiselle Margarita

A woman in a comic tale, associated with a stutter.

The Young Sieur De Croix

minor

Also known as De Croix

A French nobleman in a romantic anecdote.

John de la Casse

minor

A historical figure cited in a learned digression.

Ambrose Paræus

minor

Also known as Paræus

A famous surgeon quoted in medical discussions.

Albertus Rubenius

minor

Also known as Rubenius

A scholar cited in the debate on noses.

Coglionissimo Borri

minor

Also known as Borri

An Italian scholar mentioned in a learned context.

Cornelius Gallus

minor

Also known as Cornelius

A Roman poet cited in a digression.

Eustace de St. Pierre

minor

A historical figure from Calais, mentioned in a digression.

Ferdinand de Cordouè

minor

A Spanish scholar mentioned in passing.

Vincent Quirino

minor

A Venetian nobleman cited in a learned note.

Baldus

minor

A legal scholar quoted in a debate.

Saint Optat

minor

A saint cited in a theological discussion.

St. Maxima

minor

Also known as Maxima

A saint mentioned in a religious context.

Nazianzen

minor

A Church Father quoted in theological digressions.

Triptolemus

minor

A mythological figure mentioned in a learned aside.

Eleazer

minor

A biblical figure cited in a moral discussion.

Peireskius

minor

A French scholar and antiquary mentioned in passing.

James Turner

minor

A historical figure mentioned in a military context.

John Hall

minor

Also known as John Hall Stevenson, Stevenson

A friend of Sterne's, referenced in the text.

Mr. Percy Fitzgerald

minor

Also known as Mr. Fitzgerald

A later editor or commentator mentioned in endnotes.

Thackeray

minor

Also known as Mr. Thackeray

A writer referenced in a literary aside.

Archbishop Sterne

minor

Also known as Sterne

A relative of Laurence Sterne, mentioned in the text.

Laurence Sterne

minor

Also known as Laurence, Lawrence

The author, who appears as a self-referential character.

Lydia Sterne de Medalle

minor

Also known as Lydia

Sterne's daughter, mentioned in the text.

Roger Sterne

minor

Also known as Roger

Sterne's father, a soldier mentioned in passing.

Eliza

minor

Also known as Elizabeth Mollineux, Elizabeth Lumley

A woman addressed in the text, possibly a real-life correspondent.

Jacques Sterne

minor

Also known as Jaques, Sterne

Sterne's uncle, a churchman mentioned in the narrative.

Mrs. Sterne

minor

Also known as poor Mrs. Sterne

Sterne's wife, mentioned in the text.

Count Solmes

minor

Also known as Solmes

A historical figure mentioned in a military context.

King William

minor

Also known as Billy

King William III, mentioned in Uncle Toby's war stories.

Queen Anne

minor

Also known as Nannette

Queen Anne, mentioned in a historical context.

Dick

minor

Also known as Dick Johnson

A minor character mentioned in a comic anecdote.

Jonathan

minor

A servant or minor character mentioned in passing.

The Strasburgers

minor

Also known as Unfortunate Strasburgers

The citizens of Strasbourg, reacting to the stranger's nose.

The French

minor

The French people, often a subject of comic commentary.

The English

minor

The English people, contrasted with the French.

The Popish Doctors

minor

Catholic theologians cited in debates on baptism.