Best Selling Books by William Blake

Songs of Innocence and Experience - William Blake - The simple and beautiful eloquence of William Blake''s poetry is exemplified here in "Songs of Innocence and of Experience." This collection of forty-six poems is actually two volumes in one. After first completing and publishing "Songs of Innocence" in 1789 Blake would, some five years later, add "Songs of Experience" to the volume in an effort to show "the two contrary states of the human soul."

''Every page is a window open in Heaven ... interwoven designs companion the poems, and gold and yellow tints diffuse themselves over the page like summer clouds. The poems [of Song of Innocence] are the morning song of Blake''s genius.'' - W.B. Yeats''Blake sang of the ideal world, of the truth of the intellect, and of the divinity of imagination ... The only writer to have written songs for children with the soul of a child ... he holds, in my view, a unique position because he unites intellectual sharpness with mystic sentiment.'' - James JoyceSong of Innocence and of Experience is a rare and wonderful book, its seeming simplicity belying its visionary wisdom. Internationally recognised as a masterpiece of English literature, it also occupies a key position in the history of western art.This unique edition of the work allows Blake to communicate with his readers as he intended, reproducing Blake''s own illumination and lettering from the finest existing example of the original work. In this way readers can experience the mystery and beauty of Blake''s poems as he first created them, discovering for themselves the intricate webs of symbol and meaning that connects word and image.Each poem is accompanied by a literal transcription, and the volume is introduced by the renowned historian and critic, Richard Holmes. The poems are narrated by novelist and critic, Adam Mars-Jones.This beautiful edition of Song of Innocence and of Experience will be essential for those familiar with Blake''s work, but also offers an ideal way into his visionary world for those encountering Blake for the first time.

Classics of English poetry, alternately describing childhood states of innocence and their inevitable ensnarement in a corrupt and repressive world. Contains the full texts of all the poems in the original 1794 edition of both collections. Includes a selection from the Common Core State Standards Initiative.

The following work is a collection of poems written by William Blake. He was an English poet, painter, and printmaker. Largely unrecognized during his life, Blake is now considered a seminal figure in the history of the poetry and visual art of the Romantic Age. What he called his "prophetic works" were said by 20th-century critic Northrop Frye to form "what is in proportion to its merits the least read body of poetry in the English language". Titles to be found in this book include ''The Echoing Green'', ''The Lamb'', and ''The Blossom.''

Digitized facsimiles of the 1794 and 1826 London editions, both from the Lessing J. Rosenwald Collection, Library of Congress.

Poetry.

A hybrid of Songs of Innocence and Songs of Experience that brings poetry, philosophy and spirituality into an all-inclusive text that’s both accessible and enlightening. These selections have an easy-to-follow format that allows readers to smoothly transition from one book to the next. Blake’s writing consists of two parts: one focusing on “innocence” and the other on “experience.” They each feature a group of poems that fit their respective themes. Songs of Innocence highlights the peaceful naiveté of youth, while Songs of Experience emphasizes the loss of purity due to outside influence. Considered one of the greatest British artists to ever live, William Blake’s work is revered by critics and scholars. His illustrative style captivates the reader’s imagination keeping them interested and engaged. Songs of Innocence and of Experience is an essential sampling of his literary contributions and a worthy addition to any poetry collection. With an eye-catching new cover, and professionally typeset manuscript, this edition of Songs of Innocence and of Experience is both modern and readable.

The Marriage of Heaven and Hell William Blake - The Marriage of Heaven and Hell is a book by the English poet and printmaker William Blake. It is a series of texts written in imitation of biblical prophecy but expressing Blake''s own intensely personal Romantic and revolutionary beliefs. Like his other books, it was published as printed sheets from etched plates containing prose, poetry and illustrations. The plates were then coloured by Blake and his wife Catherine.Once regarded as a brilliant eccentric whose works skirted the outer fringes of English art and literature, William Blake (17571827) is today recognized as a major poet, a profound thinker, and one of the most original and exciting English artists. Nowhere is his glorious poetic and pictorial legacy more evident than in The Marriage of Heaven and Hell, which many consider his most inspired and original work.The Marriage of Heaven and Hell is both a humorous satire on religion and morality and a work that concisely expresses Blake''s essential wisdom and philosophy, much of it revealed in the 70 aphorisms of his "Proverbs of Hell."

In 1809 the little-known artist William Blake held an exhibition of 16 paintings in a private house in Soho in the west end of London. Works inspired by Chaucer''s "Canterbury Tales" and John Milton''s "Paradise Lost" sat alongside biblical scenes and Arthurian legend. The exhibition was not a success; the only review in the press was extremely unfavourable and few of the public came. One of those who did was the poet Charles Lamb, who later described the pictures as ''hard, dry, yet with grace'', and the catalogue that accompanied the show as ''mystical and full of vision''. It is this catalogue that Tate Publishing are once again making available. In it, the scale and range of Blake''s ambition are made plain, along with his theories on painting, his unsparing critiques of other artists and some extraordinary insights into the working of his mind. The only detailed writing on art that remains to us by Blake, it throws light on all his subsequent artistic enterprises, including the illuminated books for which he is perhaps most famous. Part commentary and part manifesto, his catalogue is as radical as it is in places eccentric (he claims at one point to have been transported in a "vision" back to the classical world). Fully illustrated in colour with reproductions of surviving works originally in the exhibition, the book includes an illuminating essay by leading authority on British art Martin Myrone, Lead Curator of Pre-1800 Art at Tate Britain, making it an essential purchase for all of those wanting to know more.

William Blake is one of England''s most original artists whose works aim to liberate imaginative energies. This volume contains his greatest writings and a generous selection from the Prophetic Books including Milton and Jerusalem.

The Song of Los, written 1795, is one of William Blake''s epic poems, known as prophetic books. The poem consists of two sections, "Africa" and "Asia". In the first section Blake catalogues the decline of morality in Europe, which he blames on both the African slave trade and enlightenment philosophers. The book provides a historical context for The Book of Urizen, The Book of Ahania, and The Book of Los, and also ties those more obscure works to The Continental Prophecies, "Europe" and "America". The second section consists of Los urging revolution. The Song of Los was one of the few works that Blake describes as "illuminated printing", one of his colour printed works with the coloured ink being placed on the copperplate before printed. William Blake was a poet, painter, visionary mystic, and engraver. During his life the prophetic message of his writings were understood by few and misunderstood by many. However Blake is now widely admired for his soulful originality and lofty imagination. The poetry of William Blake is far reaching in its scope and range of experience. The poems of William Blake can offer a profound symbolism and also a delightful childlike innocence. Whatever the inner meaning of Blake''s poetry we can easily appreciate the beautiful language and lyrical quality of his poetic vision.

William Blake''s ''Songs of Innocence and of Experience: Showing the Two Contrary States of the Human Soul'' is a collection of poems that explore the dual nature of humanity, portraying both the purity and simplicity of innocence and the complexity and darkness of experience. Blake''s lyrical style and use of symbolism make this work a quintessential example of Romantic poetry, as he delves into themes of childhood, religion, and societal norms. The contrast between the two states of the human soul is vividly depicted through the juxtaposition of the poems in this collection, inviting readers to contemplate the intricacies of human nature and existence. William Blake''s unique vision and poetic craftsmanship shine through in each verse, making ''Songs of Innocence and of Experience'' a timeless classic in English literature. William Blake, a visionary poet and artist, was deeply influenced by his spiritual beliefs and political views, which are reflected in his works. His exploration of the human soul in ''Songs of Innocence and of Experience'' showcases his profound understanding of the human condition and his ability to capture the nuances of emotion and morality. Blake''s revolutionary approach to poetry and art set him apart from his contemporaries, making him a revered figure in the Romantic movement. I highly recommend ''Songs of Innocence and of Experience'' to readers who appreciate thought-provoking poetry that delves into the complexities of the human experience. William Blake''s masterpiece offers a profound exploration of innocence and experience that will resonate with audiences across generations.

These Everyman''s Library Pocket Poets hardcover editions are popular for their compact size and reasonable price which do not compromise content. Poems: Blake contains a full selection of Blake''s work, including Songs of Innocence, Songs of Experience, poems from Blake''s Ms. book, poems from The Prophetic Books, and an index of first lines.

Milton is an epic poem by William Blake, written and illustrated between 1804 and 1810. Its hero is John Milton, who returns from Heaven and unites with Blake to explore the relationship between living writers and their predecessors, and to undergo a mystical journey to correct his own spiritual errors. William Blake (28 November 1757 – 12 August 1827) was a poet, painter, visionary mystic, and engraver. During his life the prophetic message of his writings were understood by few and misunderstood by many. However Blake is now widely admired for his soulful originality and lofty imagination. The poetry of William Blake is far reaching in its scope and range of experience. The poems of William Blake can offer a profound symbolism and also a delightful childlike innocence. Whatever the inner meaning of Blake''s poetry we can easily appreciate the beautiful language and lyrical quality of his poetic vision.

The poem was inspired by the apocryphal story that a young Jesus, accompanied by his uncle Joseph of Arimathea, a tin merchant, travelled to what is now England and visited Glastonbury during the unknown years of Jesus. The legend is linked to an idea in the Book of Revelation describing a Second Coming, wherein Jesus establishes a new Jerusalem. The Christian Church in general, and the English Church in particular, has long used Jerusalem as a metaphor for Heaven, a place of universal love and peace. In the most common interpretation of the poem, Blake implies that a visit by Jesus would briefly create heaven in England, in contrast to the "dark Satanic Mills" of the Industrial Revolution. Blake''s poem asks questions rather than asserting the historical truth of Christ''s visit. Thus the poem merely implies that there may, or may not, have been a divine visit, when there was briefly heaven in England. William Blake (1757 – 1827) was a British poet, painter, visionary mystic, and engraver, who illustrated and printed his own books. Blake proclaimed the supremacy of the imagination over the rationalism and materialism of the 18th-century. Largely unrecognised during his lifetime, Blake is now considered a seminal figure in the history of both the poetry and visual arts of the Romantic Age.

This carefully crafted ebook: "Songs of Experience (Illuminated Manuscript with the Original Illustrations of William Blake)" is formatted for your eReader with a functional and detailed table of contents. Songs of Experience is the second part of Songs of Innocence and of Experience: Shewing the Two Contrary States of the Human Soul (first published in 1794), an expansion of Blake''s first illuminated book Songs of Innocence. The poems and artwork were reproduced by copperplate engraving and colored with washes by hand. Blake republished Songs of Innocence and Experience several times, often changing the number and order of the plates. The spellings, punctuation and capitalizations are those of the original Blake manuscripts. William Blake (1757 – 1827) was a British poet, painter, visionary mystic, and engraver, who illustrated and printed his own books. Blake proclaimed the supremacy of the imagination over the rationalism and materialism of the 18th-century. Largely unrecognised during his lifetime, Blake is now considered a seminal figure in the history of both the poetry and visual arts of the Romantic Age. CONTENT: Introduction Earth''s Answer The Clod and the Pebble Holy Thursday The Little Girl Lost The Little Girl Found The Chimney-Sweeper Nurse''s Song The Sick Rose The Fly The Angel The Tiger My Pretty Rose Tree Ah, Sunflower The Lily The Garden of Love The Little Vagabond London The Human Abstract Infant Sorrow A Poison Tree A Little Boy Lost A Little Girl Lost A Divine Image A Cradle Song The Schoolboy To Tirzah

This carefully crafted ebook: "The Song of Los (Illuminated Manuscript with the Original Illustrations of William Blake)" is formatted for your eReader with a functional and detailed table of contents. The Song of Los, written 1795, is one of William Blake''s epic poems, known as prophetic books. The poem consists of two sections, "Africa" and "Asia". In the first section Blake catalogues the decline of morality in Europe, which he blames on both the African slave trade and enlightenment philosophers. The book provides a historical context for The Book of Urizen, The Book of Ahania, and The Book of Los, and also ties those more obscure works to The Continental Prophecies, "Europe" and "America". The second section consists of Los urging revolution. The Song of Los was one of the few works that Blake describes as "illuminated printing", one of his colour printed works with the coloured ink being placed on the copperplate before printed. William Blake was a poet, painter, visionary mystic, and engraver. During his life the prophetic message of his writings were understood by few and misunderstood by many. However Blake is now widely admired for his soulful originality and lofty imagination. The poetry of William Blake is far reaching in its scope and range of experience. The poems of William Blake can offer a profound symbolism and also a delightful childlike innocence. Whatever the inner meaning of Blake’s poetry we can easily appreciate the beautiful language and lyrical quality of his poetic vision.

This edition includes almost all Blake''s substantive variants with the exception of some in the exceptionally complex manuscript of Vala, or the Four Zoas.

This carefully crafted ebook: "Songs of Innocence (Illuminated Manuscript with the Original Illustrations of William Blake)" is formatted for your eReader with a functional and detailed table of contents. Songs of Innocence was the first of Blake''s illuminated books published in 1789. It is a cheerful and optimistic volume which concerns itself with such themes as springtime, children''s games, the freedom of the human spirit, and a kind and loving God. The poems and artwork were reproduced by copperplate engraving and colored with washes by hand. William Blake (1757 – 1827) was a British poet, painter, visionary mystic, and engraver, who illustrated and printed his own books. Blake proclaimed the supremacy of the imagination over the rationalism and materialism of the 18th-century. Largely unrecognised during his lifetime, Blake is now considered a seminal figure in the history of both the poetry and visual arts of the Romantic Age. CONTENT : Introduction The Shepherd The Echoing Green The Lamb The Little Black Boy The Blossom The Chimney-Sweeper The Little Boy Lost The Little Boy Found Laughing Song A Cradle Song The Divine Image Holy Thursday Night Spring Nurse''s Song Infant Joy A Dream On Another''s Sorrow

In ''The Complete Illuminated Books of William Blake (Unabridged - With All The Original Illustrations)'', readers are presented with a collection of works that showcase Blake''s unique blend of poetry and visual artistry. The book includes his famous ''Songs of Innocence and Experience'' as well as other lesser-known pieces, all of which are accompanied by his intricate hand-colored illustrations. In this volume, readers can immerse themselves in Blake''s visionary world, where themes of spirituality, morality, and the human experience are explored with depth and nuance. Blake''s writing style is characterized by its lyrical quality and profound symbolism, making each poem a rich and multi-layered reading experience. This collection is a treasure trove for lovers of poetry and art, offering a glimpse into the mind of one of the most enigmatic figures in British Romantic literature. William Blake, a visionary poet and artist, was known for his unconventional approach to creativity and his belief in the power of imagination. His works often challenged traditional norms and explored complex philosophical ideas. Blake''s interest in mysticism and symbolism heavily influenced his writing, leading to the creation of works that are both thought-provoking and visually captivating. His illuminated books are a testament to his artistic genius and his ability to transcend conventional boundaries in both poetry and visual arts. I highly recommend ''The Complete Illuminated Books of William Blake'' to anyone interested in exploring the intersection of poetry and visual art. This comprehensive collection showcases Blake''s unparalleled creativity and offers a profound glimpse into the mind of a literary visionary. Readers will be captivated by the beauty and depth of Blake''s works, making this book a must-read for enthusiasts of Romantic literature and art.