Charles Lamb's Essays of Elia are a classic of English literature. Here, a selection of his finest essays are gathered together in one volume. Lamb's wit and wisdom shine through in pieces that range from the humorous to the philosophical. Whether he's reflecting on the joys of chimney-sweeping or the nature of friendship, Lamb's observations are always insightful and entertaining. This edition includes an introduction that provides context for the essays and explains why they remain popular to this day. 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 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. 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.