The Cambridge Companion to William Blake [Paperback]

Companion to the work of one of the most admired of English writers and artists.Poet, painter, and engraver William Blake died in 1827 in obscurity. Yet he has become one of the most anthologized and studied writers in English and one of the most studied and collected British artists. His urge to cast words and images into masterpieces of revelation has left us with complex, sometimes bizarre works of written and visual art that challenge plain understanding. The essays in this Companion, together with a chronology, guides to further reading, and glossary of terms, identify the key points of departure into Blake's multifarious world.Poet, painter, and engraver William Blake died in 1827 in obscurity. Yet he has become one of the most anthologized and studied writers in English and one of the most studied and collected British artists. His urge to cast words and images into masterpieces of revelation has left us with complex, sometimes bizarre works of written and visual art that challenge plain understanding. The essays in this Companion, together with a chronology, guides to further reading, and glossary of terms, identify the key points of departure into Blake's multifarious world.A poet, painter, and engraver, William Blake died in 1827 in obscurity. Yet he has become one of the most anthologized writers in English and one of the most collected British artists. His urge to create masterpieces of revelation has left complex (and sometimes bizarre) works of written and visual art. The essays in this Companion and a chronology, guides to further reading, and glossary of Blake's terms identify the key points of departure into Blake's diverse world.Chronology; 1. Introduction Morris Eaves; Part I. Perspectives: 2. William Blake and his circle Aileen Ward; 3. Illuminated printing Joseph Viscomi; 4. Blake's language Susan Wolfson; 5. Blake as painter David Bindman; 6. The political aesthetic of the illuminated books Saree Makdisi; 7. Blake and religion Robert Ryan; 8lƒs