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The Works of Charles and Mary Lamb is a seminal collection that spans the full breadth and depth of these sibling authors' literary careers, encompassing essays, letters, poetry, and children's literature. This anthology showcases the remarkable diversity of their contributions to English literature, highlighting their ability to blend wit, sentiment, and a deep humanism across a variety of styles. The inclusion of Charles Lamb's 'Essays of Elia' and the collaborative effort on 'Tales from Shakespeare' stand out as pivotal works that underscore the siblings' literary versatility and creative harmony. The Lambs were integral figures in the Romantic and early Victorian literary scenes, their works reflecting the intellectual and cultural currents of the time. This collection draws from the rich tapestry of the period, providing insight into the shifts in literary taste and the evolution of the essay and children's literature. Their friendship with key literary figures, including Wordsworth, Coleridge, and Hazlitt, placed them at the heart of a dynamic literary community, influencing and enriching their work. This anthology is an invitation to explore the depth and diversity of Charles and Mary Lamb's contributions to English literature. It offers readers a unique lens through which to understand the historical and cultural context of early 19th-century Britain, making it an invaluable resource for students, scholars, and anyone with an interest in the evolution of literary forms and themes. The collection serves not only as a testament to the talents of the Lambs but also as an engaging entry point into the wider conversations and literary movements of their time.

All of the available letters of Charles Lamb, a master of the English essay, and his sister Mary Anne published in this definitive, scrupulously edited work. The letters, many of them written to illustrious figures of the Romantic period, are generally agreed to rank among the finest in the English language. Transcribing where possible from the originals or facsimiles, Professor Marrs corrects textual errors found in previous editions, and he pays particular attention to establishing precise dates for the correspondence. He includes letters that were omitted from the last collection (published in 1935 and long out of print), and he has uncovered more than eighty letters never published before. The Letters of Charles and Mary Anne Lamb totals five or six volumes, and presents nearly 1200 letters written by Charles and Mary, singly or together. The correspondence is fully annotated, the volumes are illustrated, and the holographic idiosyncrasies of the originals are rendered typographically wherever possible. Rich in revelations about the extraordinary lives of the Lambs, these beautifully written letters are an inexhaustible store of information about the Romantic era and its major figures-Wordsworth, Keats, and Coleridge. The publication of unexpurgated and authoritative texts is an important literary event. The first volume was published in 1975, the bicentenary of Charles Lamb's birth. It contains 102 letters written by Charles, many of them after Mary murdered their mother. Among the recipients were the poets Coleridge, Southey, and Wordsworth. The letters provide shrewd observations on his friends' writings and his own, vivid descriptions of life in London, and compassionate but candid remarks concerning his family and acquaintances. Notes to each letter place it in context, quoting where necessary from the correspondence Lamb is answering. Volume I includes Professor Marrs's extensive Introduction to the entire collection. After supplying a biography of the Lamb family up to the murder, he treats Mary's and Charles's life together until Charles's death, tracing through the letters a relationship that remained warm and affectionate even under the shadow of Mary's insanity. Professor Marrs also gives the publishing history of the letters and sets forth the principles upon which his edition is based.