--- product_id: 18594608 title: "At Large and At Small: Familiar Essays" price: "¥3853" currency: JPY in_stock: true reviews_count: 11 url: https://www.desertcart.jp/products/18594608-at-large-and-at-small-familiar-essays store_origin: JP region: Japan --- # At Large and At Small: Familiar Essays **Price:** ¥3853 **Availability:** ✅ In Stock ## Quick Answers - **What is this?** At Large and At Small: Familiar Essays - **How much does it cost?** ¥3853 with free shipping - **Is it available?** Yes, in stock and ready to ship - **Where can I buy it?** [www.desertcart.jp](https://www.desertcart.jp/products/18594608-at-large-and-at-small-familiar-essays) ## Best For - Customers looking for quality international products ## Why This Product - Free international shipping included - Worldwide delivery with tracking - 15-day hassle-free returns ## Description In At Large and At Small , Anne Fadiman returns to one of her favorite genres, the familiar essay―a beloved and hallowed literary tradition recognized for both its intellectual breadth and its miniaturist focus on everyday experiences. With the combination of humor and erudition that has distinguished her as one of our finest essayists, Fadiman draws us into twelve of her personal obsessions: from her slightly sinister childhood enthusiasm for catching butterflies to her monumental crush on Charles Lamb, from her wistfulness for the days of letter-writing to the challenges and rewards of moving from the city to the country. Many of these essays were composed "under the influence" of the subject at hand. Fadiman ingests a shocking amount of ice cream and divulges her passion for Häagen-Dazs Chocolate Chocolate Chip and her brother's homemade Liquid Nitrogen Kahlúa Coffee (recipe included); she sustains a terrific caffeine buzz while recounting Balzac's coffee addiction; and she stays up till dawn to write about being a night owl, examining the rhythms of our circadian clocks and sharing such insomnia cures as her father's nocturnal word games and Lewis Carroll's mathematical puzzles. At Large and At Small is a brilliant and delightful collection of essays that harkens a revival of a long-cherished genre. Review: An exquisite gem of a book. - This is a lovely collection of musings (“familiar essays”) on various topics, from coffee to the postal service. I’ve truly lost track of the number of times I’ve given this book as a gift. It is one of my favorites. Review: Anne Fadiman is a national treasure. - Over the last several years, I must have given close to a dozen copies of Anne Fadiman's previous essay collection, "Ex Libris", to various friends. It's the kind of book you just have to share with others. It didn't seem possible that another collection could match the perfection of the first, but this one comes pretty close. Essays in the first collection focused on topics related to books and reading; the author's lifelong passion for reading shone through on every page and should resonate with any reader sharing her addiction to books. In this new collection, Fadiman demonstrates an ability to write engagingly on a wide variety of topics. Coffee, ice-cream, moving, the life of Coleridge, the essays of Charles Lamb - Fadiman expounds charmingly on these topics, and several others, making it seem easy. Like Malcolm Gladwell, she can make any topic she writes about fascinating. Of course, writing essays so polished they sparkle like gems is anything but easy. It is a testament to Fadiman's skill as a writer that she makes it seem effortless. ## Features - Essays - health ## Technical Specifications | Specification | Value | |---------------|-------| | Best Sellers Rank | #671,071 in Books ( See Top 100 in Books ) #1,431 in Essays (Books) #15,545 in Memoirs (Books) #22,472 in Literary Fiction (Books) | | Customer Reviews | 4.6 out of 5 stars 80 Reviews | ## Images ![At Large and At Small: Familiar Essays - Image 1](https://m.media-amazon.com/images/I/71vQlOkb8+L.jpg) ## Customer Reviews ### ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ An exquisite gem of a book. *by C***E on April 23, 2026* This is a lovely collection of musings (“familiar essays”) on various topics, from coffee to the postal service. I’ve truly lost track of the number of times I’ve given this book as a gift. It is one of my favorites. ### ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ Anne Fadiman is a national treasure. *by D***N on January 30, 2008* Over the last several years, I must have given close to a dozen copies of Anne Fadiman's previous essay collection, "Ex Libris", to various friends. It's the kind of book you just have to share with others. It didn't seem possible that another collection could match the perfection of the first, but this one comes pretty close. Essays in the first collection focused on topics related to books and reading; the author's lifelong passion for reading shone through on every page and should resonate with any reader sharing her addiction to books. In this new collection, Fadiman demonstrates an ability to write engagingly on a wide variety of topics. Coffee, ice-cream, moving, the life of Coleridge, the essays of Charles Lamb - Fadiman expounds charmingly on these topics, and several others, making it seem easy. Like Malcolm Gladwell, she can make any topic she writes about fascinating. Of course, writing essays so polished they sparkle like gems is anything but easy. It is a testament to Fadiman's skill as a writer that she makes it seem effortless. ### ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ Little Jewels by Anne Fadiman *by S***N on December 20, 2010* I would simply like to add my praise to that of all the other reviewers. This is a book of tiny, sparkling gems which I will read again and again. As someone else has said, Anne Fadiman's readers may not be as interested in some of her subjects as she is, but her perfect, attention-holding prose makes up for this. I also love the way she gives credit to Charles Lamb for teaching her about the "Conversational Essay." She has learnt his lessons perfectly, and I think he would enjoy Anne Fadiman every bit as much as she enjoys him. Reading her essays has made me search for Lamb's "Essays of Elia." I found them and much more - very second-hand but intact - and am having a wonderful time with Mr Lamb. Thank you, Anne Fadiman. Sheila McLaren. ## Frequently Bought Together - At Large and At Small: Familiar Essays - Ex Libris - The Wine Lover's Daughter: A Memoir --- ## Why Shop on Desertcart? - 🛒 **Trusted by 1.3+ Million Shoppers** — Serving international shoppers since 2016 - 🌍 **Shop Globally** — Access 737+ million products across 21 categories - 💰 **No Hidden Fees** — All customs, duties, and taxes included in the price - 🔄 **15-Day Free Returns** — Hassle-free returns (30 days for PRO members) - 🔒 **Secure Payments** — Trusted payment options with buyer protection - ⭐ **TrustPilot Rated 4.5/5** — Based on 8,000+ happy customer reviews **Shop now:** [https://www.desertcart.jp/products/18594608-at-large-and-at-small-familiar-essays](https://www.desertcart.jp/products/18594608-at-large-and-at-small-familiar-essays) --- *Product available on Desertcart Japan* *Store origin: JP* *Last updated: 2026-05-20*