Essays of Elia

Charles Lamb, one of the most engaging personal essayists of all time, began publishing his Elia essays in the "London Magazine" in 1820; they were so immediately popular that a book-length collection was published in 1823.

Inventing the persona of "Elia" allowed Lamb to be shockingly honest and to gain a playful distance for self-examination.

The resulting essays touched upon a wide range of compelling subjects from the humorous "Dissertation upon Roast Pig" to the poignantly reflective "New Year's Eve".

Yet collectively, they also comprise a fascinating personal memoir, veiled under the pseudonymous disguise of Elia.

This edition of the text features a foreword by Phillip Lopate and contains useful annotation throughout.