Uniqueness & simplicity of Charles Lamb

Charles Lamb (1775 - 1834) was an English writer, born in the very heart of London, old - fashioned place known as
the Temple. he was the son of a poor clerk and was the youngest of seven children, but only three survived. at seven years Lamb joined the famous 'Bluecoat' charity school Christ Hospital where he visited his lifelong friend Coleridge. When he was fourteen he started his career as a clerk in South Sea House. After two years he became a clerk in the well known India House, where he worked steadily for thirty three years. The company offered him a comfortable pension in his retirement.

The main attraction upon Lamb grew in me while I learnt about his simplicity in both his life and literary career.
He faced severe loss all throughout his life. His brother John died when he was young. In the pitch of insanity Mary killed his mother. Thereafter she is left to an asylum. He remained a bachelor all through his life due to his failure in love towards Ann Simmons. After few years he brought back her sister from asylum to home and cared her for his entire life.

Lamb began his literary career in 1796, when he was twenty one years old. He is honored as the 'Prince of Essays' in English literature. No literary man was ever more loved and honored by a rare circle of friends; and all who knew him bear witness to simplicity and goodness. His essays are packed with pathos and humor.

Lamb wrote his essays under the pseudonym Elia. Though he was chiefly an essayist, he initiated his literary journey in writing poems. He even wrote a critical work of art titled 'Tales from Shakespeare' (1807) along with his sister Mary Lamb. Charles concentrated on the tragedies of Shakespeare where Mary devoted to Shakespearean comedies. Lamb came to light with the publication of his most significant works Essays of Elia (1823) and Last Essays of Elia (1833). Some of his famous essays are 'Dissertation on Roast Pig', 'Old China', 'Praise of Chimney Sweepers', 'Christ Hospital Five and Thirty Years Ago', 'Dream Children', 'Grace Before Meat', 'A Chapter on Ears' and 'Imperfect Sympathies'.

The essay 'Christ Hospital Five and Thirty Years Ago' is an autobiographical sketch of his school life. Lamb recalls his sad experiences where he remained lonely without friends which grew his sickness for home. He talks about the greedy nurses, the poor quality and quantity of food served to the boys. He also penned the harsh punishments given to the boys. For first offence the boy was put in fetters, for the second the boy was locked in a dungeon and for third he was not only expelled from school but also unkindly flogged.

The Dissertation on Roast Pig is a humorous essay which portrays the history of cooking in ancient age. Bo-bo, the son of Swineherd Ho-ti accidentally burned down his family cottage along with nine pigs. Induced by the flavor of the burnt pigs he tastes them and provides to his father too. But the process of cooking is still unknown to them. If they want to taste the cooked pork they burnt the whole place and eat.

In Dream Children; A Reverie is an essay which says his account of his life in dream which never existed. The writer imagined himself marrying Ann Simmons and blessed with two children. In this essay Lamb narrates his childhood to his children John and Alice. At the end of the essay the writer discovers all the happenings is a dream. Another important essay is "Praise of Chimney Sweepers". The essay is an emotional account of his interaction with the young boys who used to sweep the soot -covered chimneys in Industrial England.

Lamb's essays are light without being frivolous and wise without being tedious. The style of his essays is gentle, old-fashioned and irresistibly attractive.

I would like to thank @belenguerra @writingnreviews @fendit for providing me this opportunity.