Charles Lamb, one of the most engaging personal essayists of all time, began publishing his Elia essays in the London Magazine in 1820; they were so immediately popular that a book-length collection was published in 1823. Inventing the persona of Elia allowed Lamb to be shockingly honest and to gain a playful distance for self-examination. The resulting essays touched upon a wide range of compelling subjects from the humorous Dissertation upon Roast Pig to the poignantly reflective New Year's Eve . Yet collectively, they also comprise a fascinating personal memoir, veiled under the pseudonymous disguise of Elia. This edition of the text features a foreword by Phillip Lopate and contains useful annotation throughout.