Epilogue

<jats:title>Abstract</jats:title> <jats:p>The epilogue revisits Viktor Shklovsky’s evolving interpretation of Sterne in his post-Formalist writings, particularly his reflections on the therapeutic qualities of Sterne’s fiction. It shows how this response echoes Sterne’s own reading of Cervantes and his belief in the restorative power of humour. The chapter then considers instances of Sterne’s works being read in war zones, prisons, and the Gulag, with readers recalling his fiction as a source of comfort in extreme circumstances. It concludes with an overview of Sterne’s presence in Soviet and post-Soviet Russian culture after the Second World War.</jats:p>