English Literature

The much adored and loved author, Charles Lamb, did not have an easy life. Born into a financially weak family, his struggle began early on. He was admitted into Christ’s Hospital, a free boarding school. It was here that he met Coleridge who was to become his long-term friend. Lamb’s terrible experiences in the boarding school and the violence he encountered there are narrated in his essays. In fact, the boarding school did produce a lot of famous literary figures, many of whom recount similar harassing environment of the boarding school. 

He was very close to his sister all through his life. Through Charles Lamb’s essays we come to understand that he was very attached to his family. His father, his grandmother, his uncle, sister, brother, etc., find mention in his essays. The small family rifts, the childhood memories, his preferred haunts all find a place in Lamb’s essays. 

Lamb’s life took a turn for the worse when his sister, allegedly driven by insanity stabbed their mother. She was declared insane and Lamb became her lifelong guardian.

Lamb, meanwhile was honing his skills as a writer. After many unsuccessful attempts, he brought out “Tales from Shakespeare”, along with Mary. It was an instant success. But what really brought Charles Lamb fame were his “Essays of Elia”. It is “Essays of Elia” that Charles Lamb is truly remembered for.

A man, surrounded by friends with literary inclinations and respected as a good critic, was finally to be recognised as a writer in  “Essays of Elia”.

In my next article I intend to cover one of Charles Lamb’s most famous essays- “Dream Children: A Reverie”. So, if you are wondering why “Essays of Elia” are considered the most lovable essays in the history of English Literature, maybe the next article will shed some light on it.