A Dissertation Upon Roast Pig
The narrative explores the origins of cooking, particularly the accidental discovery of roasting meat, through a humorous and imaginative tale. It begins with a description of humanity's primitive eating habits, leading to a pivotal incident involving a swineherd's son, Bo-bo, who inadvertently sets their cottage ablaze while playing with fire. In the chaos, he discovers the delightful taste of a roasted pig, which he shares with his horrified father, Ho-ti. Despite initial resistance, both father and son succumb to the irresistible flavor, leading to a series of increasingly frequent fires as they continue to roast pigs. The story humorously critiques societal norms and culinary practices, illustrating how a simple pleasure can lead to chaos and innovation. The narrative culminates in a trial where the taste of the roasted pig sways the jury, resulting in a verdict of "Not Guilty." This incident sparks a culinary revolution, eventually leading to the invention of more sophisticated cooking methods. The author extols the virtues of roast pig, emphasizing its unparalleled flavor and the joy it brings, while reflecting on the nature of indulgence and the evolution of culinary arts. The work combines satire, philosophy, and a celebration of gastronomy, ultimately asserting the roast pig as a culinary masterpiece.
By Charles Lamb · First published 1822 · Genre: Humor, Essay, Narrative Nonfiction · 3,283 words
First lines
Mankind, says a Chinese manuscript, which my friend M. was obliging enough to read and explain to me, for the first seventy thousand ages ate their meat raw, clawing or biting it from the living animal, just as they do in Abyssinia to this day.
This period is not obscurely hinted at by their great Confucius in the second chapter of his Mundane Mutations, where he designates a kind of golden age by the term Cho-fang, literally the Cooks' holiday.
What this Textopian page supports
A Dissertation Upon Roast Pig is listed on Textopian as an essay by Charles Lamb, dated 1822 CE.
This source record anchors work identity, reading entry points, and catalog context for checking claims about the work.
- Work type: Essay
- Author: Charles Lamb
- Date: 1822 CE
- Language: English
- Genres: Humor, Essay, Narrative Nonfiction, Food Writing
- Length: 3,283 words
- Structure: 1 section, 83 paragraphs
- Reading fit: Fairly Difficult (10th-12th Grade)
Good citation fit
- Work identity for A Dissertation Upon Roast Pig by Charles Lamb
- Canonical title URL and first readable passage URL
- Genre and topic classification from the Textopian catalog
- Readability and classroom-planning context
- Passage-specific claims should cite the exact /read/ URL for the relevant chapter or paragraph
Discussion starters
- What should a reader notice first when entering A Dissertation Upon Roast Pig?
- How does this essay by Charles Lamb fit its genre, period, or classroom use?
- Where does Humor first become important in the reading?
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Genres
- Humor — Both Lamb's writing style and the story's premise, an argument praising the practice of roasting pigs, are couched in humor.
- Essay — 'A Dissertation Upon Roast Pig' is one of Lamb's 'Essays of Elia', making the essay genre central to its style and form.
- Narrative Nonfiction — The work presents fictional claims and anecdotes in a manner suggestive of factual reportage.
- Food Writing — Though humorous and fantastical, the essay's subject deals with the pleasure of food and specifically roast pig, placing it within the genre of food writing.
Tags
humor · essay · food · roast pig · satire · literature · 19th century · British · cooking · nostalgia · cultural commentary · gourmet