William Blake: Selected Poetry and Letters

Sprite marked it as to-read Aug 13, Gail marked it as to-read Nov 07, There are no discussion topics on this book yet. William 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".

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His visual artistry has led one modern critic to proclaim h William Blake was an English poet, painter, and printmaker. His visual artistry has led one modern critic to proclaim him "far and away the greatest artist Britain has ever produced. 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.

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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. Books by William Blake. Trivia About William Blake: No trivia or quizzes yet.

I understand why Blake was important from a historical perspective, but oh my god, this stuff is NOT for me. Jul 19, Ashleigh rated it it was ok.

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An undoubted genius, the personal mythology in his longer poems can be a bit opaque but he was just so masterful with his poetry and his art. The beauty of the written word is never complete without realizing the strength of its equivalent spoken word. That is poetry in its basic form. At a young age, William Blake saw angels in a tree sometime between This experience prompted him to study drawing, engraving, and lastly, painting--probably to record visions not generally seen by common people in his time.

In his later years he suffered poverty and neglect but his rare talent in literatur http: In his later years he suffered poverty and neglect but his rare talent in literature, illustration, and his visions earned him a unique position in British history. Spiritual, mystic, or just a plain dreamer, one thing is certain and it's about his highly visual and symbolic literary skills reflected in his works.

Take these two stanzas from the introduction of Songs of Experience the part where he introduces himself as a poet: Hear the voice of the Bard! I observe some apparent misspellings but they are printed in this book exactly the way they are in the original engravings and notes by the author. Those words have the traces of being archaic, progenitors of the present-day words easy to spot since they all sound common shew-show, eccho-echo, extacy-ecstacy, akeing-aching, embrio-embryo, desart-desert, etc.

This is my reason for the emphasis of the spoken word here. Try reciting a passage or two, and you will like how they sound. This is my favorite excerpt from There is No Natural Religion: He who sees the Ratio only sees himself only. God becomes as we are, that we may be as he is. Nature is imagination itself--he declares in his letter to Dr Tusler. I could not agree more. Because as a poet if you cannot project to the audience the picture in your mind and its symbols, then you already failed as a communicator.

The message is no longer the same and the bridge is lost between the creator and his creation. Overall, this is a neat collection of selected poems by William Blake published by Phoenix Poetry. The chronology of Blake's life in parallel to historical world events in the final pages is a big bonus. This one is highly recommended as an introductory William Blake read. Apr 08, Facundo Martin rated it liked it. Even if the words made no sense, they sound beautiful together, but not only do they make sense they forge powerful imagery.

Blake wrote many poems that managed to be both pleasing to the ear and meaningful.

With respect to the human world, poems about children are particularly common. Most of the poems and partials fit on a single page or two, but some are as short as a two line stanza and others are as long as a dozen pages. The only ancillary matter consists of two timelines: I will say that these two time lines are confusingly arranged in the edition that I read. They are two pages each, with the pages of each facing each other. Either rearrangement of pages or formatting changes would fix this right up. This is a great little collection with which to get a taste for Blake.

Selected Poetry and Letters [of] William Blake - William Blake - Google Книги

William Blake - name, which I first read in Red Dragon. Red Dragon Unfortunately it was a reference full with violence and madness, so I thought this author must be completely out of my liking, but then again reading biographic introduction about Kahlil Gibran , it was mentioned that Blake has been great influence. My curiosity was raised. So I decided to try things out. Right now I'm pleased I did. Although it was a challenge to read poetry in 19th century's English, it was worth it. There were pieces, which made me loose myself in contemplation. Others made me enjoy rhythm of poetry at it's best.

But then again I couldn't agree with all of ideas, especially about doubt being considered as unforgivable flaw in personality. My thoughts on the subject are so opposite, that it made a mark on whole reading experience, but nevertheless I'm considering reading more to indulge this inclination to truly experience Blake's works.

Maybe it is just the mystery of the guy. Jun 30, M rated it it was amazing.

I love this kid. I memorized Pretty Rose Tree when I was younger because it's important to know exactly one poem by heart, and that seemed like a good one. That was before I read the Auguries of Innocence sober. I'm not a big poetry guy, but I'm an enormous existentialism guy and that's a damn succinct encapsulation of being human. I plan to use this therapeutically and philoso I love this kid. I plan to use this therapeutically and philosophically whenever anyone is making noise about life being unfair. There was also a line that made me wish I were the type who got text tattooed on my decaying meat shell: Some are born to sweet delight, Some are born to Endless Night.

Nailed it, Big Willie. Let's flip that coin, huh?

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The book was full of really good poems, inasmuch as I have the credentials to look at a poem and be like " Anyone who likes poetry. Well, William Blake week has come to an end. Although I had already been a fan of Blake for a long time, I had never read a large body of his work, so my impression of his work was definitely changed by the experience. I discovered how his body of work is quite philosophical and political, which brought me to respect his work in a whole new way. Among the philosophical poems that I found particularly moving are "The Fly" and the particularly simple but poignant "Epiphany": He who binds to himsel Well, William Blake week has come to an end.

He expresses his liberal political views in "London" and "The Human Abstract", which introduced me to a side of him I was completely unaware of. Blake's writings were increasingly styled after the Hebrew prophets. His engravings and poetry give form and substance to the conflicts and passions of the elemental human heart, made real as actual characters in his later work.

Although he was ignored by the British literary community through most of his life, interest and study of his work has never waned. Blake's creativity and original thinking mark him as one of the earliest Romantic poets, best known for his Songs of Innocence and Songs of Experience and The Tiger.

Blake died in London in Selected Poetry and Letters [of] William Blake. The Little Vagabond From Poetical Sketches There Is No Natural Religion c All Religions are One c Songs of Innocence The Little Girl Lost. In a mirtle shade. Love to faults is always blind. From Vala or The Four Zoas o5.