Recollections of the table-talk of Samuel Rogers

Recollections of the Table-Talk of Samuel Rogers was published in 1856, shortly after the death of the celebrated poet and literary host, Samuel Rogers. The work was compiled by the writer Alexander Dyce, who drew upon decades of notes taken during conversations at Rogers' famous breakfasts in St. James's Place. These gatherings were legendary in London society, serving as a neutral ground where the era's greatest political, artistic, and literary figures—including Byron, Wordsworth, and Wellington—could exchange anecdotes and opinions in an intimate setting.

The book captures the spirit of mid-19th-century intellectual life, preserving the sharp wit and historical observations that might otherwise have been lost to time. Alexander Dyce, an accomplished scholar and critic, curated the collection with the intent of painting a vivid portrait of a man who was as famous for his hospitality and discernment as for his own poetry. Upon its release, the volume was met with considerable interest, though it also sparked minor controversy among contemporaries who felt the candid, sometimes pointed anecdotes regarding public figures were better left unrecorded.