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Essential Blake: Poetry on Imagination and Liberty by the First Modern Poet
From the introduction by Stanley Blake speaks more directly to us, anticipating the issues, conflicts, and anxieties of the modern world, than any of his contemporaries. It could be argued that he dared, in fact, to be the first modern poet. . . . Above all, Blake teaches us that the imagination is a portion of the divine principle, that "Energy is Eternal Delight," and that "everything that lives is Holy." Human liberty and imagination have never been better served.
128 pages, Paperback
First published April 1, 1987
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About the author
William Blake
1,230 books3,202 followersWilliam Blake was an English poet, painter, and printmaker. Largely unrecognised during his lifetime, Blake's work is today considered seminal and significant in the history of both poetry and the visual arts.
Blake's prophetic poetry has been said to form "what is in proportion to its merits the least read body of poetry in the language". His visual artistry has led one modern critic to proclaim him "far and away the greatest artist Britain has ever produced." Although he only once travelled any further than a day's walk outside London over the course of his life, his creative vision engendered a diverse and symbolically rich corpus, which embraced 'imagination' as "the body of God", or "Human existence itself".
Once considered mad for his idiosyncratic views, Blake is highly regarded today for his expressiveness and creativity, and the philosophical and mystical currents that underlie his work. His work has been characterized as part of the Romantic movement, or even "Pre-Romantic", for its largely having appeared in the 18th century. Reverent of the Bible but hostile to the established Church, Blake was influenced by the ideals and ambitions of the French and American revolutions, as well as by such thinkers as Emanuel Swedenborg.
Despite these known influences, the originality and singularity of Blake's work make it difficult to classify. One 19th century scholar characterised Blake as a "glorious luminary", "a man not forestalled by predecessors, nor to be classed with contemporaries, nor to be replaced by known or readily surmisable successors."
Blake's prophetic poetry has been said to form "what is in proportion to its merits the least read body of poetry in the language". His visual artistry has led one modern critic to proclaim him "far and away the greatest artist Britain has ever produced." Although he only once travelled any further than a day's walk outside London over the course of his life, his creative vision engendered a diverse and symbolically rich corpus, which embraced 'imagination' as "the body of God", or "Human existence itself".
Once considered mad for his idiosyncratic views, Blake is highly regarded today for his expressiveness and creativity, and the philosophical and mystical currents that underlie his work. His work has been characterized as part of the Romantic movement, or even "Pre-Romantic", for its largely having appeared in the 18th century. Reverent of the Bible but hostile to the established Church, Blake was influenced by the ideals and ambitions of the French and American revolutions, as well as by such thinkers as Emanuel Swedenborg.
Despite these known influences, the originality and singularity of Blake's work make it difficult to classify. One 19th century scholar characterised Blake as a "glorious luminary", "a man not forestalled by predecessors, nor to be classed with contemporaries, nor to be replaced by known or readily surmisable successors."
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Displaying 1 - 23 of 23 reviews
January 10, 2013
Highlights: The Grey Monk, The Little Black Boy, The Mental Traveller, Proverbs of Hell, Never Seek To Tell Thy Love, Infant Sorrow, On Another's Sorrow, The Tyger (of course).
March 20, 2023
So apparently when I am sick that is when I like to read nineteenth-century poetry, and I’m not quite sure what’s up with that, other than that the books are short and have the appropriate Being An Invalid vibes. But anyway, while I was waiting for Network Effect to be delivered I decided to read Essential Blake, a short volume of selections of William Blake’s poetry that I acquired in college.
The most important things to know about Blake are a) he was heavily involved in all sorts of mysticism/occultism/alchemy stuff and b) most of his contemporaries thought he was insane. I’ve had a soft spot for Blake ever since I read In the Forests of the Night as a preteen just beginning her vampire obsession, and I maintain that “The Tyger” is a fantastic poem. I’ve enjoyed the Blake I’ve read in various English classes throughout the years, as well. But there is something about sitting down and reading a whole volume of Blake, short as it is, to really drive home that, stuffy and terrible as most nineteenth-century Englishpersons were, probably the main reason Blake’s contemporaries thought he was insane is because the man appears to have been off his rocker. He also appears to have really, really hated Rubens, and the “miscellany” section at the end of the volume contains no less than three poems about how much Rubens sucks and how dumb everyone is for commissioning him. There’s also a whole section of epigrams titled “Proverbs of Hell” and most of them are just dumb, I’m sorry. So it turns out his most famous poems–mainly the ones in Songs of Innocence and Experience–are his best-known ones for a reason. Sometimes the poems veer into the political, which tends to be of mixed success artistically, and also Blake unfortunately manages to mash up his social conscience about child labor with some really unfortunate attempts at racial solidarity that do not do the thing he seems to have been trying to do, in part due to a chronically English-poet attachment to figurative language around the colors white and black. The results are, as the kids say, cringe! It becomes a relief to get back to something like “The Sick Rose,” which is actually good, and reminds us why we’re still reading this absolute weirdo 200+ years later.
Originally posted at Is this a holy thing to see
The most important things to know about Blake are a) he was heavily involved in all sorts of mysticism/occultism/alchemy stuff and b) most of his contemporaries thought he was insane. I’ve had a soft spot for Blake ever since I read In the Forests of the Night as a preteen just beginning her vampire obsession, and I maintain that “The Tyger” is a fantastic poem. I’ve enjoyed the Blake I’ve read in various English classes throughout the years, as well. But there is something about sitting down and reading a whole volume of Blake, short as it is, to really drive home that, stuffy and terrible as most nineteenth-century Englishpersons were, probably the main reason Blake’s contemporaries thought he was insane is because the man appears to have been off his rocker. He also appears to have really, really hated Rubens, and the “miscellany” section at the end of the volume contains no less than three poems about how much Rubens sucks and how dumb everyone is for commissioning him. There’s also a whole section of epigrams titled “Proverbs of Hell” and most of them are just dumb, I’m sorry. So it turns out his most famous poems–mainly the ones in Songs of Innocence and Experience–are his best-known ones for a reason. Sometimes the poems veer into the political, which tends to be of mixed success artistically, and also Blake unfortunately manages to mash up his social conscience about child labor with some really unfortunate attempts at racial solidarity that do not do the thing he seems to have been trying to do, in part due to a chronically English-poet attachment to figurative language around the colors white and black. The results are, as the kids say, cringe! It becomes a relief to get back to something like “The Sick Rose,” which is actually good, and reminds us why we’re still reading this absolute weirdo 200+ years later.
Originally posted at Is this a holy thing to see
November 10, 2015
An excellent overview of Blake's writing, including the complete Songs of Innocence and Songs of Experience, and The Marriage of Heaven and Hell, as well as a variety of other verse. Concise, with an excellent introduction.
April 20, 2021
William Blake is a grand enigma. There are moments where his poetry is vast and expressive, filled with confidence, depth and grand design. Other times the prose can feel weakened by a somewhat schoolyard approach and follow through. Fortunately, this is rare, and the somewhat simplistic approach does pay off with a satisfactory end. Conversely, there are many works within this collection that almost feel unfinished. Part of the man's genius? Poetic license? You decide.
What drew me to Blake's work in the first place was the iconic The Marriage Between Heaven and Hell. This is a masterpiece that explores so many aspects of humanity, divinity, good, evil, angels, devils, all things we as human beings consider so valuable. Its prose can create interest in some of the works cited within it (another part of its curious draw are the random allusions to the work of others) even if the Book of Isaiah or Paradise Lost has been read or explicitly studied. Within the Proverbs of Hell or Memorable Fancy we gain further intellect to the mind Blake worked with. A moonstruck man that was said to receive some of his works by people who came to him as he slept. If this is true, and these otherworld sages helped craft The Marriage Between Heave and Hell, I thank their intervention and ask they explore my dreams.
Initially, this was to be a three star review since some of the more basic poetry felt dull and predictable. However, these are parts of a greater whole that shows a poet blessed with both madness and imagery unique to he alone. Nobody else has ever felt like Blake within the psalms of text, and no one ever will.
What drew me to Blake's work in the first place was the iconic The Marriage Between Heaven and Hell. This is a masterpiece that explores so many aspects of humanity, divinity, good, evil, angels, devils, all things we as human beings consider so valuable. Its prose can create interest in some of the works cited within it (another part of its curious draw are the random allusions to the work of others) even if the Book of Isaiah or Paradise Lost has been read or explicitly studied. Within the Proverbs of Hell or Memorable Fancy we gain further intellect to the mind Blake worked with. A moonstruck man that was said to receive some of his works by people who came to him as he slept. If this is true, and these otherworld sages helped craft The Marriage Between Heave and Hell, I thank their intervention and ask they explore my dreams.
Initially, this was to be a three star review since some of the more basic poetry felt dull and predictable. However, these are parts of a greater whole that shows a poet blessed with both madness and imagery unique to he alone. Nobody else has ever felt like Blake within the psalms of text, and no one ever will.
April 19, 2024
Part of the problem of reading Blake like this is it doesn’t include his art, which significantly adds to his work.
Anyway, its funny how big I smiled through Songs of Innocence as I remember that idyllic kind of pastoral writing, but Songs of Experience is most of the book and as interesting as it is, you’re definitely sick of the religious stuff a bit after half way. He does use many speakers, so the variety is both serious and playful, and he finds a lot of things important to God that we might not consider these days
Anyway, its funny how big I smiled through Songs of Innocence as I remember that idyllic kind of pastoral writing, but Songs of Experience is most of the book and as interesting as it is, you’re definitely sick of the religious stuff a bit after half way. He does use many speakers, so the variety is both serious and playful, and he finds a lot of things important to God that we might not consider these days
October 17, 2020
A nice forward by Stanley Kunitz makes for a pleasant introduction to this visionary of a poet. The best Blake books, however, are the ones which contain reproductions of the prints which accompanied the poetry. There, you get that glimpse into what Ginsberg saw in his “Blakean Visions.” So many artists and philosophers and poets were inspired by Blake.
July 26, 2023
Not my kind of poems at all, though a few of them did show a sense of wisdom and wonder. The rest fell flat (Jesus, Blake, more words rhyme with 'bright' than 'night,' my dude). Maybe Blake was a genius, who am I to say, but I mostly felt miffed at the repetitive imagery and the repetitive rhymes.
May 1, 2025
Strange little guy, was Blake. Did he believe in God? Why did he hate organized religion? Was he a cynic? Why was the fairy in a nut? Devilish, psychedelic, strange, and sometimes beautiful.
Many good poems, some strange philosophical musings at the end. Me and girlfriend enjoyed.
Many good poems, some strange philosophical musings at the end. Me and girlfriend enjoyed.
July 27, 2021
This guy has some problem*tic lines in here….
March 19, 2023
my fav poems ever came from this book. the “Earths Answer” and “The Echoing Green.” LOVE!!
March 29, 2014
Though it's a mere 100 pages, the "Essential Blake" could be even shorter. I don't know that anyone needs the poet's letters to Thomas Butts. But given that this anthology has the complete "Songs of Innocence" and the complete "Songs of Experience," as well as choice picks from "The Marriage of Heaven and Hell," I shall not complain but will happily thank Stanley Kunitz for his respectable selection and his respectful introduction.
September 8, 2011
loved particularly the "proverbs of hell" and "the holiness of minute particulars." oh yeah-- 'tyger! tyger! burning bright'-- sent me back to 8th grade lit w/ my one of my fave teachers of all time, mr. maher. he taught me to read deeper and find joy and wisdom in the stories; i am soulfully indebted to his reading approach.
November 21, 2016
Really enjoyed the selections chosen by Kunitz. I particularly enjoyed "The Memorable Fancy" section as they played out like dream sequences of fascinating depth. I would highly recommend this short book to anyone exploring William Blake.
August 14, 2008
He's my favorite poet and aphorist. Bonus points for association with the film "Dead Man."
October 4, 2008
"Everything that lives IS holy..." I am always humbled when I read Blake.
*
*
May 13, 2011
Very approachable, humanistic, a little subversive... Just my style
June 20, 2011
Blake is a must if you love poetry.
January 24, 2013
I enjoyed this. I haven't read much of Blake, but this is a good little starter to his expansive collection.
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April 12, 2013821.7 B6367 1987
November 21, 2016
must read.
February 28, 2016
While at times Blake's poetry is a little baffling it is always interesting.
April 2, 2017
"Tyger! Tyger!" was the only thing worth reading.
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June 2, 2018This collection by Stanely Kunitz contained much of what is regarded as Blake's best verse but even better was the addition of his prose. It really does give a great background to understand the exceptional quality of thought behind what can appear to many as children's verse. Glad to have found this is the 1$ bin and glad to have made the time to read it. For people very aware of Blake's poetry I suggest the later sections of the books for specifically the Proverbs overheard in Hell. My absolute favourite section of the book brimming with aphoristic wisdom and teeming with wit and whimsy.
Displaying 1 - 23 of 23 reviews