Mary Lamb

Born in London on December 3, 1764, Mary Lamb was an English writer best known for Tales from Shakespeare (1807), the much-loved retellings she wrote with her brother Charles Lamb. She had little formal schooling and helped support her family through needlework, but she became part of a lively literary circle that included figures such as Samuel Taylor Coleridge and William Wordsworth.

Her life was shadowed by recurring mental illness. In 1796, during a severe episode, she killed her mother; afterward Charles devoted himself to caring for her, and the two remained close collaborators for the rest of their lives. Alongside Tales from Shakespeare, they wrote other works for young readers, including Poetry for Children and Mrs. Leicester's School.

Mary Lamb died in London on May 20, 1847. She is remembered not only for helping introduce generations of children to Shakespeare, but also for the warmth, clarity, and humane spirit of her writing.