Lamb's Criticism

"Lamb's Criticism; A Selection From the Literary Criticism of Charles Lamb" offers an essential look into the mind of one of the Romantic era's most beloved and insightful prose writers. Known for his wit, humanity, and deep appreciation for the written word, Charles Lamb provides a series of reflections that traverse the landscape of English literature. This collection brings together his most significant critical essays, offering readers a window into his thoughts on Elizabethan drama, the works of William Shakespeare, and the poetry of his contemporaries.

Lamb's approach to criticism is deeply personal and subjective, prioritizing the emotional resonance of a text over rigid academic formalism. His observations on the sanity of true genius and his nuanced appraisals of the English stage remain foundational to the study of nineteenth-century aesthetic thought. Whether examining the nuances of tragedy or the intricacies of the familiar essay, Lamb's voice remains distinct and engaging. This selection serves as both an introduction to his critical method and a valuable resource for those seeking to understand the development of literary analysis during the Romantic period.

This work has been selected by scholars as being culturally important, and is part of the knowledge base of civilization as we know it. This work was reproduced from the original artifact, and remains as true to the original work as possible. Therefore, you may see the original copyright references, library stamps (as most of these works have been housed in our most important libraries around the world), and other notations in the work.

This work is in the public domain in the United States of America, and possibly other nations. Within the United States, you may freely copy and distribute this work, as no entity (individual or corporate) has a copyright on the body of the work.

As a reproduction of a historical artifact, this work may contain missing or blurred pages, poor pictures, errant marks, etc. Scholars believe, and we concur, that this work is important enough to be preserved, reproduced, and made generally available to the public. We appreciate your support of the preservation process, and thank you for being an important part of keeping this knowledge alive and relevant.