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William Blake: his life
In this first genuinely new account of William Blake's life since 1927, the author focuses on the enormous contradictions and complexities of Blake's personality. He examines the poet-artist's deeply divided feelings about sexuality, as well as his erotic imagination. King shows how these and other contradictions formed a unique vision which led Blake to create his own philosophy and mythology. illustrated throughout. xviii, ii , 263+ 1 pages. stiff paper wrappers. 8vo..
- GenresNonfiction
256 pages, Paperback
First published May 1, 1991
18 people want to read
About the author
James King
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Displaying 1 - 2 of 2 reviews
October 1, 2021
Reads like an illustrated chronology of Blake’s working career supplemented by elementary analyses of his poems as well as facts and anecdotes pulled from the letters
August 10, 2016
An undisputed odd ball but one well ahead of his time in many ways, rooted back in Albion's past in others.. A comfortable and fairly indulged childhood in Soho (not the place then that it is today?!) A very difficult child it seems..nothing changed there. Perhaps a slight mellowing in old age.
Trained as an engraver. Prolific painter who rated Michelangelo and Fra Angelico but tended to rubbish most other artists. Mystic, poet, naturist (he and his wife sat about in their altogethers) writer and philosopher. A mass of contradictions like the rest of us – he supported the Revolution in France and had little time for the 'Establishment' at home and especially the monarchy but very sympathetic towards George III when he went mad and dedicated one of his works to Queen Charlotte.
Always uncompromising, he had very loyal friends who he appeared to resent as they tried hard to keep him from starvation. His work became more extreme and his paintings more lurid and yet the gentle and divine humanity of some his poetry, especially Songs of Innocence and Experience contrasts with this.
Paranoid tendencies, certainly. Mad? Probably not. This was a good introduction for me to the life and work of Blake. I want to read Peter Ackroyd's contribution some time soon.
Trained as an engraver. Prolific painter who rated Michelangelo and Fra Angelico but tended to rubbish most other artists. Mystic, poet, naturist (he and his wife sat about in their altogethers) writer and philosopher. A mass of contradictions like the rest of us – he supported the Revolution in France and had little time for the 'Establishment' at home and especially the monarchy but very sympathetic towards George III when he went mad and dedicated one of his works to Queen Charlotte.
Always uncompromising, he had very loyal friends who he appeared to resent as they tried hard to keep him from starvation. His work became more extreme and his paintings more lurid and yet the gentle and divine humanity of some his poetry, especially Songs of Innocence and Experience contrasts with this.
Paranoid tendencies, certainly. Mad? Probably not. This was a good introduction for me to the life and work of Blake. I want to read Peter Ackroyd's contribution some time soon.
Displaying 1 - 2 of 2 reviews