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Dream-Child

A Life of Charles Lamb
Book Hero Magic crafted this summary to help describe this book. While it's new and still learning, it may not be perfect - your feedback is welcome! Summary
Dream-Child by Eric G. Wilson is a poignant exploration of the relationship between Lewis Carroll, the famed author of Alice in Wonderland, and his muse Alice Liddell. This biography delves into their intertwined lives and the profound impact their connection had on Carroll's literary work. Wilson intricately examines themes of imagination, childhood, and creativity, revealing a deep, artistic bond that continues to intrigue readers today.
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Format: Hardback
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Book Hero Magic created this recommendation. While it's new and still learning, it may not be perfect - your feedback is welcome! IS THIS YOUR NEXT READ?

This book may appeal to you if you're intrigued by the intersections of creativity, childhood, and mythology. It explores the imaginative world of Charles Dodgson, better known as Lewis Carroll, offering insights into how his unique perspective shaped his literary works. Ideal for those interested in exploring the complexities of literary biography and the enigmatic life of one of the most fascinating authors in history.

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An in-depth look into the life of Romantic essayist Charles Lamb and the legacy of his work

Book Hero Magic formatted this description to make it easier to read. While it's new and still learning, it may not be perfect - your feedback is welcome! Description

An in-depth look into the life of Romantic essayist Charles Lamb and the legacy of his work

A pioneer of urban Romanticism, essayist Charles Lamb (1775–1834) found inspiration in London’s markets, theatres, prostitutes, and bookshops. He prized the city’s literary scene, too, where he was a star wit. He counted among his admirers Mary Shelley, William Wordsworth, and Samuel Taylor Coleridge. His friends valued in his conversation what distinguished his writing style: a highly original blend of irony, whimsy, and melancholy.

Eric G. Wilson captures Lamb’s strange charm in this meticulously researched and engagingly written biography. He demonstrates how Lamb’s humour helped him cope with a life-defining tragedy: in a fit of madness, his sister Mary murdered their mother. Arranging to care for her himself, Lamb saved her from the gallows. Delightful when sane, Mary became Charles’s muse, and she collaborated with him on children’s books.

In exploring Mary’s presence in Charles’s darkly comical essays, Wilson also shows how Lamb reverberates in today’s experimental literature.

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Eric G. Wilson's Dream-Child is hailed as a compelling biography of Charles Lamb, providing intricate insights into the life of this complex literary figure. This first major biography in over a century is praised for its vivid portrayal, shrewd analysis, and ability to draw the reader into Lamb's era. Critics commend Wilson's deep connection to Lamb's spirit, invigorating his character through a combination of rigorous scholarship and engaging narrative.

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Book Details

INFORMATION

ISBN: 9780300230802

Publisher: Yale University Press

Format: Hardback

Date Published: 11 January 2022

Country: United States

Imprint: Yale University Press

Illustration: 33 b-w illus.

Audience: General / adult

DIMENSIONS

Spine width: 37.0mm

Width: 156.0mm

Height: 235.0mm

Weight: 250g

Pages: 544

About the Author

Eric G. Wilson is Thomas H. Pritchard Professor of English at Wake Forest University. He is the author of several books, including Everyone Loves a Good Train Wreck and Against Happiness.

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