The Best Letters of Charles Lamb

Name: The Best Letters of Charles Lamb
Author: Charles Lamb

This collection features a series of letters that reveal the personal and literary life of the writer, showcasing his relationships with contemporaries, reflections on literature, and insights into his own mental health. The correspondence often addresses notable figures such as Coleridge and Southey, discussing their works and the literary scene of the time. The writer expresses candid thoughts on poetry, the challenges of publishing, and the philosophical debates of the era, particularly concerning religion and atheism. The letters also delve into personal experiences, including a period spent in a mental institution, which adds depth to his character and creative process. The writer's humor, wit, and vulnerability are evident as he navigates friendships and artistic ambitions. He shares his own poetic endeavors, including sonnets and plans for a blank verse poem, while also reflecting on the influence of his sister, who provides emotional support. Overall, the letters serve as a rich tapestry of literary discourse, personal struggle, and the complexities of human relationships, illustrating the writer's unique voice and the cultural context of his time.

By Charles Lamb · First published 1819 · Genre: Non-fiction, Epistolary literature, Biography · 60 chapters · 95,288 words

First lines

Dear Coleridge, -- Make yourself perfectly easy about May. I paid his bill when I sent your clothes. I was flush of money, and am so still to all the purposes of a single life; so give yourself no further concern about it. The money would be superfluous to me if I had it.

When Southey becomes as modest as his predecessor, Milton, and publishes his Epics in duodecimo, I will read 'em; a guinea a book is somewhat exorbitant, nor have I the opportunity of borrowing the work. The extracts from it in the "Monthly Review," and the short passages in your "Watchman," seem to me much superior to anything in his partnership account with Lovell. [1] Your poems I shall procure forthwith.

What this Textopian page supports

The Best Letters of Charles Lamb is listed on Textopian as an essay by Charles Lamb, dated 1819 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: 1819 CE
Language: English
Genres: Non-fiction, Epistolary literature, Biography, Historical
Length: 95,288 words
Structure: 107 chapters, 1,031 paragraphs
Reading fit: Fairly Easy (7th Grade)

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Genres

Non-fiction — The book is a collection of real letters written by Charles Lamb, which places it in the non-fiction genre.
Epistolary literature — The book is made up of Charles Lamb's letters, perfectly fitting the genre of epistolary literature.
Biography — The letters provide a glimpse into Charles Lamb's personal life, thoughts, and experiences, giving it elements of a biography.
Historical — Given that Charles Lamb lived during the late 18th and early 19th centuries, and his letters reflect the societal context of his times, the book falls under the historical genre.