The Life of William Blake - (Dover Fine Art, History of Art) Annotated by Alexander Gilchrist (Paperback)

About the Book

First full-length biography (1863) covers Blake's childhood, student years, trial for treason, "madness," neglect by the public, untimely death. Insightful commentary on the poet's works plus 40 of his illustrations.

Book Synopsis

One of the greatest Victorian-era biographies, Alexander Gilchrist's The Life of William Blake plays a key role in the history of Blake's work and its influence on other writers and artists. The first standard text on Blake and a cornerstone of the extensive scholarship on his life and work, it not only delivered its subject from unjust obscurity but also dispelled the notion of Blake's insanity and established his genius as a visionary artist and poet.
Sensitive, highly readable accounts trace Blake's childhood and years as an engraver's apprentice, his relations with patrons and employers, his trial for treason, and his declining health and untimely death. The author's wide-ranging research includes interviews with many of Blake's surviving friends, whose personal recollections add warmth and immediacy to this portrait. Extensive quotes from the subject's poetry and prose -- practically unknown at the time of the original 1863 publication -- further enliven the text. In addition to a critical commentary on Blake's boyhood poems, this transformative biography features more than 40 of his illustrations.

About the Author

A seminal figure in both the literature and the visual arts of the Romantic age, William Blake (1757-1827) dwelt his entire life in London, where he made his living as an engraver. The visionary poet and painter, whose art was misunderstood and overlooked during his lifetime, created intensely spiritual works informed by his strong philosophical and religious beliefs.