The book is the dialectization of the unabridged text of Laurence Sterne's «The Life and Opinions of Tristram Shandy, Gentleman», Volume I (first published 1759) into redneck vernacular.

The translation originates in early runs of Al Capp's comic strip Li'l Abner (1934-1977). Capp's characters speak in odd dialects. However, they do not talk like real hillbillies but as Capp feels a hillbilly would probably talk if he lived near Dogpatch all his life.