Most Popular Books by William Blake

This vivid facsimile of Blake''s romantic and revolutionary publication offers a concise expression of his essential wisdom and philosophy. His distinctive hand-lettered text is accompanied by 27 color plates of his stirring illustrations.

In 1789, William Blake wrote and illuminate to us with this beautiful book song of innocence and of experience. His writing illustrates human behaviors and experiences through " the two contrary states of the human soul". These beautiful and soulful poems where written frame of reference to children.

Songs of Innocence and of Experience compiles two contrasting but directly related books of poetry by William Blake. Songs of Innocence honors and praises the natural world, the natural innocence of children and their close relationship to God. Songs of Experience contains much darker, disillusioned poems, which deal with serious, often political themes. It is believed that the disastrous end to the French Revolution produced this disillusionment in Blake. He does, however, maintain that true innocence is achieved only through experience.

William Blake was born in 1757 in London. He spent his childhood in Dublin and then moved to Switzerland. Initially unappreciated and considered insane, William Blake is now known as one of the most inspiring and influential English artists of all times. Songs of Innocence and Songs of Experience were originally produced as engraved and illuminated books, colored by the author himself. After publishing Songs of Innocence, William Blake wrote a new set of songs (Songs of Experience), which in a harsh but satirical way responded to those collected in his first work. Songs of innocence and experience contrast the innocent and idyllic childhood existence with the repression and corruption of an adult environment. In his work, Blake shares his individual political and spiritual believes. He touches on difficult topics such as poverty, children abuse and repressive nature of church and skillfully paints a portrait of a complex political and social landscape of his era.

William Blake (28 November 1757 - 12 August 1827) was an English poet, painter, and printmaker. Largely unrecognised during his lifetime, Blake is now considered a seminal figure in the history of the poetry and visual arts 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."His visual artistry led 21st-century critic Jonathan Jones to proclaim him "far and away the greatest artist Britain has ever produced." In 2002, Blake was placed at number 38 in the BBC''s poll of the 100 Greatest Britons. Although he lived in London his entire life (except for three years spent in Felpham), he produced a diverse and symbolically rich oeuvre, which embraced the imagination as "the body of God"or "human existence itself." Although Blake was considered mad by contemporaries for his idiosyncratic views, he is held in high regard by later critics for his expressiveness and creativity, and for the philosophical and mystical undercurrents within his work. His paintings and poetry have been characterised as part of the Romantic movement and as "Pre-Romantic." Reverent of the Bible but hostile to the Church of England (indeed, to almost all forms of organised religion), Blake was influenced by the ideals and ambitions of the French and American Revolutions. Though later he rejected many of these political beliefs, he maintained an amiable relationship with the political activist Thomas Paine; he was also influenced by thinkers such as Emanuel Swedenborg.Despite these known influences, the singularity of Blake''s work makes him difficult to classify. The 19th-century scholar William Rossetti characterised him as a "glorious luminary," and "a man not forestalled by predecessors, nor to be classed with contemporaries, nor to be replaced by known or readily surmisable successors."

In "The Complete Illuminated Books of William Blake," the reader is invited into a transcendent realm where poetry and visual art coalesce in a unique and revolutionary manner. Blake''s work embodies the spirit of Romanticism, challenging the rigid confines of Neoclassical aesthetics by infusing his texts with mystical and visionary elements. Each illuminated page showcases his intricate engravings, which complement the veiled meanings embedded in his poetry. Organized thematically and chronologically, this collection includes his iconic works such as "Songs of Innocence and of Experience" and "The Marriage of Heaven and Hell," offering insights into the dualities of existence and the nature of the human soul amidst the tumult of societal change in late 18th-century England. William Blake was not only a poet but also a painter, printmaker, and engraver, whose life (1757-1827) was marked by a profound sense of spiritual and social rebellion. His dissociation from the mainstream art and literary circles of his time, coupled with his deep engagement with mysticism and biblical themes, profoundly influenced his creative process. Blake''s vision was fueled by his belief in the transformative power of art and his quest to convey universal truths through his imaginative symbolism. This masterful collection is essential for any reader seeking to grasp the depth of Blake''Äôs artistic genius and philosophical inquiry. Whether you are a long-time admirer of Blake''s work or encountering it for the first time, this unabridged edition, complete with original illustrations, serves as an invaluable resource for understanding the beauty and complexity of his legacy.

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

A beautifully and faithfully reissued edition of William Blake''s revolutionary publication Songs of Innocence and of Experience, a rare and wonderful collection of poetry from one of Britain''s most important artists. Widely recognised as a masterpiece of English literature, Songs of Innocence and of Experience also occupies a key position in the history of Western art. This authentic and unique edition of the work allows William Blake to communicate with his readers as he intended, reproducing his 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 web 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. This beautiful edition of Songs of Innocence and of Experience is both essential for those familiar with Blake''s work and also an ideal way into his world for those encountering him for the first time.

Differentiated book- It has a historical context with research of the timeSongs of Innocence and Experience (Songs of Innocence and of Experience) is a collection of romanticism poems by English writer William Blake (1757-1827), published in 1794.The anthology groups in a single volume some of William Blake''s most prominent poems published previously in two other collections: Songs of Innocence and Songs of Experience.For William Blake, the concepts of Innocence and Experience are related to two states of consciousness but also of perception of reality: the first, innocence, refers us to a mythical, biblical past, where the human being lived in perfect harmony with nature; the second, experience, refers to the fall of man who leaves the idyllic state of Paradise to plunge into the waters of knowledge.In this sense, experience is not something that is obtained, but rather a consequence of the loss of innocence. In this way, William Blake classifies the levels of perception of the human being, and in a manner similar to the philosophy of Romanticism.Innocence is the original state of humanity, but a state that is not immune to society, that is, to experience, the fallen world, which is often represented through institutions. And just as innocence is described as a state of purity, experience is marked by loss, melancholy, fear, and inhibition.

This carefully crafted ebook: "William Blake''s Illustrations of The Book of Job (Illuminated Manuscript with the Original Illustrations of William Blake)" is formatted for your eReader with a functional and detailed table of contents. William Blake is regarded as one of the greatest creative geniuses of the Romantic era, valued for the visionary power of both his poetry and his art. However, in his own time, he struggled to make ends meet and his work attracted little attention. The book contains a lengthy introduction to the life and work of Black by Norton as was as full page black and white copies of the etchings which Blake between 1823 and 1826 for his illustrated edition of the Book of Job. His Illustrations of the Book tell the Biblical story of Job, one of the books of the Hebrew Bible. It relates his trials at the hands of Satan, his discussions with friends on the origins and nature of his suffering, his challenge to God, and finally a response from God. The book is a didactic poem set in a prose frame and has been included in lists of the greatest books in world literature. William Blake (1757 – 1827) was an English poet, painter, and printmaker. 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. His paintings and poetry have been characterised as part of the Romantic movement and "Pre-Romantic", for its large appearance in the 18th century. Blake was influenced by the ideals and ambitions of the French and American revolutions. Despite these known influences, the singularity of Blake''s work makes him difficult to classify.

Milton is a difficult and cryptic poem for those uninitiated in the ways of Blake''s allusive and allegorical style. In an introductory essay, the editors directly address the nature of the poem''s complexity, demonstrate how Blake''s methods set out to disconcert conventional concepts of time, space, and human identity, and suggest some ways readers coming to Milton for the first time can understand and enjoy the challenges it offers. The editors also present a plate-by-plate commentary on how the illustrations contribute to the creation of a composite, visual-verbal experience. The extensive notes to the newly-edited letterpress text will also assist readers through Milton, its central themes and its byways, its heights and its depths. An equally helpful introduction and notes are provided for the three shorter works. Scholars will find much new information in this volume.

''How can the bird that is born for joy / Sit in a cage and sing?'' A selection of Blake''s most haunting verse, including ''The Songs of Innocence and Experience''. One of 46 new books in the bestselling Little Black Classics series, to celebrate the first ever Penguin Classic in 1946. Each book gives readers a taste of the Classics'' huge range and diversity, with works from around the world and across the centuries - including fables, decadence, heartbreak, tall tales, satire, ghosts, battles and elephants.

This carefully crafted ebook: "The Book of Ahania (Illuminated Manuscript with the Original Illustrations of William Blake)" is formatted for your eReader with a functional and detailed table of contents. The Book of Ahania is one of the English poet William Blake''s prophetic books. It was published in 1795, illustrated by Blake''s own plates. The poem of the book consists of six chapters. The content concerns Fuzon, a son of Urizen, a Zoa or major aspect in Blake''s mythology. Ahania of the title is Urizen''s female counterpart. 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 carefully crafted ebook: "The Book of Urizen (Illuminated Manuscript with the Original Illustrations of William Blake)" is formatted for your eReader with a functional and detailed table of contents. The Book of Urizen is one of the major prophetic books of the English poet William Blake, illustrated by Blake’s own plates. It was originally published as The First Book of Urizen in 1794. Later editions dropped the word “first”. The book takes its name from the character Urizen in Blake’s mythology, who represents alienated reason as the source of oppression. The book describes Urizen as the “primeaval priest”, and describes how he became separated from the other Eternals to create his own alienated and enslaving realm of religious dogma. Los and Enitharmon create a space within Urizen’s fallen universe to give birth to their son Orc, the spirit of revolution and freedom. In form, the book is a parody of the Book of Genesis, with Blake’s Urizen being more similar to the demiurge of the Gnostics than a benevolent creator. The poems of William Blake reinterpret the spiritual history of the human race from the fall from Eden to the beginning of the French Revolution. Blake believed in the correspondence between the physical world and the spiritual world and used poetic metaphor to express these beliefs. In his poetry, we hear a man who look''s for mankind to salvage his redemption from oppression through resurgence of imaginative life. The power of repression is a constant theme in Blake''s poems and he articulates his belief in the titanic forces of revolt and the struggle for freedom against the guardians of tradition. "William Blake (1757 – 1827) was an English poet, painter, and printmaker. 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: “The Book of Thel (Illuminated Manuscript with the Original Illustrations of William Blake)” is formatted for your eReader with a functional table of contents. The Book of Thel is a poem by William Blake, dated 1789 and probably composed in the period 1788 to 1790. It is illustrated by his own plates, and is relatively short and easy to understand, compared to his later prophetic books. The metre is a fourteen-syllable line. It was preceded by Tiriel, which Blake left in manuscript. A few lines from Tiriel were incorporated into The Book of Thel. Most of the poem is in unrhymed verse. This book consists of eight plates executed in illuminated printing. Sixteen copies of the original print of 1789-1793 are known. Three copies bearing a watermark of 1815 are more elaborately colored than the others. 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.

Through some of the most beautiful collected works of the English language, poet William Blake examines the contrary nature of the human heart, the two sides of our progress as we travel from open virginal innocence, to wizened and tried knowledge and experience. Exploring love, heartbreak, joy, fear, life, and death, Blake guides us through a passage of thought on the human experience.