How did Laurence Sterne's trips abroad provide material for A Sentimental Journey?

Laurence Sterne’s trips abroad provided the essential foundation for his final novel, A Sentimental Journey Through France and Italy. In 1762, suffering from severe lung hemorrhages, Sterne fled the damp climate of England for France, a journey he characterized as a flight from death.1

This initial trip, along with a subsequent journey abroad, supplied the raw material for the book, which chronicles the travels of the protagonist, Yorick, through France. Rather than focusing on traditional travelogue elements like sightseeing or art collections, Sterne used his personal experiences to explore the psychological interplay between sentimental and erotic impulses. By framing the narrative as a series of scattered, autobiographical, and fictionalized encounters, he transformed his own travels into a "sentimental" exploration of human connection. Although the title suggests a broader scope, Sterne’s failing health prevented him from completing the intended sections on Italy before his death in 1768.12