Life of William Blake
With Selections from his Poems and Other Writings

The 1880 edition of Gilchrist's influential 1863 biography of William Blake, containing a selection of Blake's writings and paintings.

Alexander Gilchrist (Author), Dante Gabriel Rossetti (Edited by), William Michael Rossetti (Edited by)

9781108013680, Cambridge University Press

Paperback / softback, published 31 October 2010

480 pages, 24 b/w illus.
21.6 x 2.7 x 14 cm, 0.61 kg

Although today William Blake (1757–1827) is recognised as a visionary poet and artist, at the time of his death he was unknown except for his presumed insanity. This highly influential two-volume biography by the barrister Alexander Gilchrist, first published in 1863 and reissued here in its second edition (1880), rescued William Blake from almost complete obscurity. The accepted interpretation of his madness was challenged and his creative talents were brought to the attention of Victorian society by the inclusion of selected writings and artistic works, nearly all previously unpublished. Volume 2 contains a large selection of Blake's poetry and prose together with an annotated catalogue of his drawings and paintings.

Selections edited by Dante Gabriel Rossetti
Poetical Sketches
Songs of Innocence
Songs of Experience
The Book of Thel
Ideas of good and evil
Prose writings
Annotated catalogue of Blake's paintings and drawings by William Michael Rossetti
Account between Blake and Mr. Butts
Lists of engravings
List of writings
Prospectus by Blake issued in 1793
Descriptive notes of the designs to Young's 'Night Thoughts' by Frederic James Shields
Essay on Blake by James Smetham
In memoriam F. O. Finch, by Samuel Palmer
Memoir of Alexander Gilchrist by Anne Gilchrist
Index.

Subject Areas: Publishing industry & book trade [KNTP]