Tristram Shandy: Book 6: Chapters 26-30 Summary & Analysis

Chapter 26. Tristram describes the development of Trim’s invention: Trim, seeking a method for continuous firing during the siege, struck upon the idea of using smoke—and, to do so, his Turkish tobacco pipes. Adding extra tubes, he connected them to the cannons and was thereby able to fire all the cannons at once. Tristram comments on the unexpected places one finds ideas of true genius and says he would give his shirt to understand such mysteries. Trim, having spent most of the night building and testing his firing apparatus, went to bed feeling satisfied.

Chapter 27. Trim goes out to the bowling green ten minutes before Toby to first a few first shots, using both Turkish tobacco pipes to fire two batteries of cannons. The pleasure of puffing on the pipes is so great that Trim cannot hold himself back, and his attack is in full swing by the time Toby arrives. It is lucky for Walter, Tristram notes, that Toby did not write his will that day.

Chapter 28. Toby joins Trim, taking up the ivory Turkish tobacco pipe. Soon the pleasure is so great that he moves to the sentry box to sit while he puffs, continuing the attack.

Chapter 29. Tristram begs the reader for help moving Toby and his model fortifications out of the way in order to present a different side of Toby. This will not be completely unfamiliar, however, as the reader has seen enough of Toby to gauge how he will act. Toby, Tristram reminds readers, is utterly ignorant and overly trusting when it comes to women. Tristram interrupts his description of Toby’s modesty, however, realizing it is coming at least 10 pages too soon.

Chapter 30. People who have never fallen in love make up the majority of great historical heroes, Tristram argues, as they were too busy for romance. This was the case for Toby too, until the Treaty of Utrecht—the worst thing fate did that year, according to Tristram.