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Selected Writings: Charles Lamb
This collection contains a representative selection from Charles Lamb's writings including essays, dramatic criticism, verse, and letters, demonstrating his literary achievements and acting as an autobiography.
290 pages, Paperback
First published November 20, 2003
88 people want to read
About the author
Charles Lamb
1,990 books189 followersCharles Lamb was an English essayist with Welsh heritage, best known for his "Essays of Elia" and for the children's book "Tales from Shakespeare", which he produced along with his sister,
Mary Lamb
(1764–1847).
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Displaying 1 - 2 of 2 reviews
November 30, 2017
3.5 I decided to pick up a collection of Lamb's essays and letters because he's a writing idol for Anne Fadiman, who I love, but I don't think I'll be as quick as she to venerate him. This collection was definitely boring at times, especially when referencing people, places, etc. that I've never heard of. But there are also definitely some gems, like his quirky essay on his love for roast pig. Plus the writing overall is obviously great quality.
December 3, 2012
Wordy, but lots of gems. Worth revisiting.
notes/excerpts:
intro xvii..he was never free of the horrifying thought that if he had another nervous breakdown, Mary would be left without provider and cherisher.
sadness, even gloom, were never far away
xviii..his enthusiasm for all good things...books, pictures, food, drink, friendship...is symptomatic of his quest for momentary liberation from the shackles of misfortune
xix..he liked women, and vice versa, but closeness to any one woman threatened a breach of the discipline he had designed for himself..
Bitterness, anger, hate, resentment: all self-destructive passions were foreign to Lamb's character.
xx..the one unpardonable offence was a breach of loyalty
Coleridge..50 years without a dissension
1796..sister Mary killed their mother
xxii..had not yet discovered the merit of imagination as a BARRICADE against despair.
xxvi..of his poems, only Hester and The Old familiar Faces were anthologized
xxviii...A Dissertation upon Roast Pig ****
..writhe with indignation
48..Mary's work as a NEEDLE WOMAN
64-67..retirement from his clerical job...
From a poor man, poor in TIME, I was suddenly lifted up into a vast
revenue; I could see no end of my possessions.
..I have a quiet home-feeling of the blessedness of my condition.
71..Popular Fallacies...that we should rise with the lark
that we should lie down with the lamb
74..there is absolutely no such thing as reading, but by candlelight
89..obit...self
93.. the old familiar faces
121..hester...loved, but never spoke to
123..unsuccessful proposal to actress..(xix..what a lass to go a-gypsying through the world with)
135..irate st charles
136..abuse of the regent
137..Quarterly's POLITICAL BIAS SOURED ALL ITS LITERARY JUDGEMENTS
187..juices of meats, innocent vanities and jests
197..Dissertation upon Roast Pig
217..critical and anti-critical
L's spirit is "anti-critical" (accentuate the positive)
219..godfather had pretensions above his rank
220..theater..the honour of Sheridan's familiarity...or supposed familiarity..was better to my godfather than money
229..Hissing plays..authors should be the masters & preceptors of the public, and not vice versa
notes/excerpts:
intro xvii..he was never free of the horrifying thought that if he had another nervous breakdown, Mary would be left without provider and cherisher.
sadness, even gloom, were never far away
xviii..his enthusiasm for all good things...books, pictures, food, drink, friendship...is symptomatic of his quest for momentary liberation from the shackles of misfortune
xix..he liked women, and vice versa, but closeness to any one woman threatened a breach of the discipline he had designed for himself..
Bitterness, anger, hate, resentment: all self-destructive passions were foreign to Lamb's character.
xx..the one unpardonable offence was a breach of loyalty
Coleridge..50 years without a dissension
1796..sister Mary killed their mother
xxii..had not yet discovered the merit of imagination as a BARRICADE against despair.
xxvi..of his poems, only Hester and The Old familiar Faces were anthologized
xxviii...A Dissertation upon Roast Pig ****
..writhe with indignation
48..Mary's work as a NEEDLE WOMAN
64-67..retirement from his clerical job...
From a poor man, poor in TIME, I was suddenly lifted up into a vast
revenue; I could see no end of my possessions.
..I have a quiet home-feeling of the blessedness of my condition.
71..Popular Fallacies...that we should rise with the lark
that we should lie down with the lamb
74..there is absolutely no such thing as reading, but by candlelight
89..obit...self
93.. the old familiar faces
121..hester...loved, but never spoke to
123..unsuccessful proposal to actress..(xix..what a lass to go a-gypsying through the world with)
135..irate st charles
136..abuse of the regent
137..Quarterly's POLITICAL BIAS SOURED ALL ITS LITERARY JUDGEMENTS
187..juices of meats, innocent vanities and jests
197..Dissertation upon Roast Pig
217..critical and anti-critical
L's spirit is "anti-critical" (accentuate the positive)
219..godfather had pretensions above his rank
220..theater..the honour of Sheridan's familiarity...or supposed familiarity..was better to my godfather than money
229..Hissing plays..authors should be the masters & preceptors of the public, and not vice versa
Displaying 1 - 2 of 2 reviews