GILCHRIST ON BLAKE: The Life of William Blake by Alexander Gilchrist - Softcover

Holmes, Richard

Softcover

ISBN 10: 0007111711 ISBN 13: 9780007111718

Publisher: Harper Perennial, 2011

Synopsis

LIVES THAT NEVER GROW OLD

Part of a radical new series – edited by Richard Holmes – that recovers the great classical tradition of English biography. Gilchrist’s ‘The Life of William Blake’ is a biographical masterpiece, still thrilling to read and vividly alive.

This was the first biography of William Blake ever written, at a time when the great visionary poet and painter was generally forgotten, ridiculed or dismissed as insane. Wonderfully vivid and outspoken (one chapter is entitled ‘Mad or Not Mad’), it was based on revealing interviews with many of Blake’s surviving friends.

Blake conversed with spirits, saw angels in trees, and sunbathed naked with his wife ‘like Adam and Eve’. Gilchrist adds detailed descriptions of Blake’s beliefs and working methods, an account of his trial for high treason and fascinating evocations of the places in London, Kent and Sussex where he lived. The book ultimately transformed and enhanced Blake’s reputation.

About this title

Review:

'...brilliant introduction by Holmes...taken together these books provide a valuable insight into the way biography has evolved...' -- Times Literary Supplement

'no other Blake biography gives such a powerful impression of this irascible genius' -- The Guardian

Synopsis:

LIVES THAT NEVER GROW OLD A radical new series - edited by Richard Holmes - that recovers the great classical tradition of English biography. Every book is a biographical masterpiece, still thrilling to read and vividly alive. This was the first biography of William Blake ever written, at a time when the great visionary poet and painter was generally forgotten, ridiculed or dismissed as insane. Wonderfully vivid and outspoken (one chapter is entitled 'Mad or Not Mad'), it was based on revealing interviews with many of Blake's surviving friends. Blake conversed with spirits, saw angels in trees, and sunbathed naked with his wife 'like Adam and Eve'. Gilchrist adds detailed descriptions of Blake's beliefs and working methods, an account of his trial for high treason and fascinating evocations of the places in London, Kent and Sussex where he lived. The book transformed Blake's reputation.

About this edition

• Publisher: Harper Perennial
• Publication date: 2011
• ISBN 10: 0007111711
• ISBN 13: 9780007111718
• Binding: Paperback
• Number of pages: 480