I have run across a copy of A Sentimental Journey Through France and Italy, by Laurence Sterne. I recall trying to read Tristam Shandy once, at the recommendation of one of my lit profs, but never was able to get past the first few pages. From what little I read, however, it appeared to me that Sterne had a quality of writing that, albeit dated, nonetheless seemed to talk to me as I sat swaddled in my 20th century environment.
One interesting item from Sentimental Journey that I ran across by accident:
It was but last night, said the landlord qu’un my Lord Anglais presentoit un ecu à la fille de chambre—Tant pis, pour Mademoiselle Janatone, said I.
Now Janatone being the landlord’s daughter, and the landlord supposing I was young in French, took the liberty to inform me, I should have not said tant pis—but, tant mieux. Tant mieux, toujours monsieur, said he, when there is anything to be got—tant pis, when there is nothing. It comes to the same thing, said I. Pardonnez moi, said the landlord.
I cannot take fitter opportunity to observe, once for all, that tant pis and tant mieux being two of the great hinges in French conversation, a stranger would do well to set himself right in the use of them, before he gets to Paris.
Just another something to keep in mind…
P.S. For those who do not read French, in the excerpt the landlord mentions that an English milord had given the chambermaid a paltry sum, to which the speaker said, “Too bad for Miss Janatone.” In reply, the landlord tells the speaker that in such cases, “when there is anything to be got,” one says “so much the better” (tant mieux) and that “so much the worse” or “too bad” (tant pis) is used “when there is nothing.”