Charles Lamb (1775-1834), essayist, poet, humourist, critic, letterwriter and friend, has an enduring literary reputation. His "Tales from Shakespear" (1807) and "Specimens of English Dramatic Poets" (1808) were followed in 1820 by the first of his 67 "Essays of Elia" published in the "London Magazine" which made his literary reputation. Reading these essays draws one into Lamb's circle of friends, sitting by his fireside and enjoying the company of the most personal of English essayists. This book contains a representative selection from his writings - essays, dramatic criticism, verse and letters which demonstrates his literary achievements, and is at the same time his autobiography.