An 'Ungentle' Punk: Revisiting Charles Lamb's Bookishness (original) (raw)

This paper revisits the relationship between Charles Lamb's literary style and consumerism, framing his bookishness as a form of rebellion against conventional middle-class tastes. Through an exploration of Lamb's essays, it posits that his consumption of literature not only reflected his eccentric sensibility but also anticipated later middle-class dissidence exemplified by the punk movement, highlighting the complexities of his role within the periodical press and the tensions between autonomy and commercial interests in both Lamb's work and the punk subculture.