A Dissertation Upon Roast Pig

Charles Lamb's playful essay turns a household disaster into a gleeful origin myth for one of the world's simplest luxuries: roast pig. In ancient China, the clumsy fire-setting of Bo-bo accidentally creates the first scorched pork, and what begins in embarrassment becomes a comic revelation as Ho-ti and his son cannot resist eating every last morsel. Lamb's mock-heroic style and absurd historical detail build a satirical tale of appetite, accident, and human ingenuity, where even a trial and acquittal are swayed by the irresistible taste of the evidence. As the story spreads, the whole town falls into a fever for roast pig, with houses burning, pigs growing scarce, and even the judge secretly joining the craze. The essay then shifts into exuberant praise of roast pig's tenderness, crackling texture, and near-perfect delight, while reflecting on generosity, desire, and the guilty pleasures that shape human life. Witty, indulgent, and self-mocking, it is both a comic fable and a loving celebration of taste. This edition has been fully restored with modern typesetting, custom cover design.