Charles Lamb: A Memoir

"Charles Lamb: A Memoir" by Barry Cornwall is a late 19th-century biographical exploration of Charles Lamb, the celebrated English essayist and poet. Penned with admiration, the book unveils Lamb through Cornwall's personal memories, painting a picture of a literary icon deeply committed to his sister Mary, whose mental health challenges significantly influenced his life. This memoir seeks to bring Lamb's wit, empathy, and intellect to light, alongside his literary contributions. The narrative begins by establishing Cornwall's close bond with Lamb in his final years and emphasizes Lamb's unwavering dedication to his sister, a situation that heavily impacted both his daily life and his writing. It glances at Lamb's formative years, his time at Christ's Hospital, and his career at India House, where he earned a living to support Mary while pursuing his passion for writing. Thus, the memoir begins to weave together Lamb's life experiences, literary inspirations, and his relationships with notable contemporaries like Samuel Taylor Coleridge, thus examining the complex relationship between personal tragedy and creative brilliance.