Charles Lamb was a 19th-century English writer whose retellings of the classic works of literature especially that of Shakespeare's tales, still popular today. He is best known for his essays, in particular, The Essays of Elia.
Early Life of Charles Lamb
Charles Lamb was born in London on February 10, 1775, the son of a lawyer's clerk and youngest son. He studied at the school in Fetter Lane, London and later entered Christ's Hospital. It was there that he met the future poet Samuel Taylor Coleridge, who became a lifelong friend.
After leaving school at 14, Lamb was employed in the South Sea House and later at the East India Company as a shipping clerk and worked there until his retirement at 50 years old. When he was 21, Coleridge invited him to contribute to a book called Poems on Various Subjects. This was the beginning of Lamb's writing career.
Sister Mary's Keeper
In 1796, a family tragedy happened that changed the course of Charles Lamb's life. During a period of temporary insanity, his sister Mary Ann murdered their mother. She was committed to an asylum but later released under his care. Lamb devoted the rest of his life caring for her.
Tales from Shakespeare
Despite the pressures, Lamb continued writing and contributed to a number of well-respected newspapers. He was commissioned to write a children's book. Written with his sister Mary, Tales from Shakespeare was published when he was 32. These simple retellings of William Shakespeare's plays were very popular and have never been out of print.
Journals Contributions
Lamb's contributions to journals included his essays "On the Character and Genius of Hogarth," "On the Tragedies of Shakespeare," and a review of Wordsworth's The Excursion.
Children's Books
Charles and Mary wrote several other books for children, including The Adventures of Ulysses, Mrs Leicester's School and Poetry for Children.
Lamb's most famous works are his essays. Originally published in newspapers, they were collected in two volumes: Essays of Elia, published when he was 48, and The Last Essays of Elia, which came out ten years later. He died at the age of 59, December 27, 1834.
Charles Lamb's Final Years
In 1827, Charles and Mary, together with Emma Isola, an orphan they adopted, moved to Enfiend and later to Edmonton where he died at the age of 59, December 27, 1834. A volume of his letters with a biographical sketch and Memorials of Charles Lamb was published by Talfourd. Lamb was remembered as a gentle and responsible man with a sense of humour, loved and admired by friends.
Works by Charles Lamb
- A Tale of Rosamund Gray, 1798
- Tales from Shakespeare, 1807
- The Adventures of Ulysses, 1808
- Mrs. Leicester's School, 1809
- Poetry for Children, 1809
- Prince Dorus, 1811
- The Works of Charles Lamb, 1818
- Essays of Elia, 1823
- The Last Essays of Elia, 1833
Sources:
Cambridge Guide to Literature in English by Ian Ousby. Cambridge: CUP, 1993
Larousse Dictionary of Writers, edited by Rosemary Goring. New York: Larousse, 1994
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