Marriage of Heaven and Hell - Hardcover

Blake, William

Hardcover

ISBN 10: 0192125885 ISBN 13: 9780192125880

Publisher: Oxford University Press, 1975

Synopsis

The Marriage of Heaven and Hell was created early in Blake's series of illuminated books, each of which was presented by him as an attractive work of art made entirely by his own hand. Written principally in prose, The Marriage represents Blake's first full-scale attempt to present his philosophic message. In it he expresses his extreme humanist views - Angels and Devils change places, Good becomes Evil, and Heaven becomes Hell.

About this title

Review:

“A leading American Blake scholar once described the prospect of editing "The Marriage of Heaven and Hell" as ‘a swamp filled with gators;’ Michael Phillips has navigated his way with great skill through the problems of chronology, textual unity, technique, contemporary context and significance of Blake''s strikingly witty, sardonic, quirky, cryptic product of his unique combination of text and illustration in his illuminated books. As well as the facsimile of Copy B, one of the earliest of the nine known copies of the book, there are twenty-one valuable supplementary color plates of comparable pages from other copies, including a full run of Plate 14 as it occurs in the nine copies produced between 1793 to the year of his death, 1827. The detailed commentary discusses both text and illustrations, and in the case of the illustrations is most helpfully accompanied by appropriate details from Blake''s designs.” — Martin Butlin, formerly Keeper of the British

“This edition of one of Blake’s most potent and provocative books will give great pleasure both to Blake enthusiasts and to those new to his work.”—Tracy Chevalier
--Tracy Chevalier

“This is an excellent scholarly edition of one of Blake’s most fascinating works, likely to become the defining text for generations to come. No one knows as much about Blake’s work in this period as Michael Phillips and he uses his knowledge of the text, its context, and Blake’s printing techniques to open up the question of what Blake thought he was doing with "The Marriage of Heaven and Hell".” —John Mee
--John Mee

A leading American Blake scholar once described the prospect of editing "The Marriage of Heaven and Hell" as a swamp filled with gators; Michael Phillips has navigated his way with great skill through the problems of chronology, textual unity, technique, contemporary context and significance of Blake's strikingly witty, sardonic, quirky, cryptic product of his unique combination of text and illustration in his illuminated books. As well as the facsimile of Copy B, one of the earliest of the nine known copies of the book, there are twenty-one valuable supplementary color plates of comparable pages from other copies, including a full run of Plate 14 as it occurs in the nine copies produced between 1793 to the year of his death, 1827. The detailed commentary discusses both text and illustrations, and in the case of the illustrations is most helpfully accompanied by appropriate details from Blake's designs. Martin Butlin, editor of "The Complete Paintings and Drawings of William Blake"
--Martin Butlin"

This edition of one of Blake s most potent and provocative books will give great pleasure both to Blake enthusiasts and to those new to his work.
--Tracy Chevalier"

This is an excellent scholarly edition of one of Blake s most fascinating works, likely to become the defining text for generations to come. No one knows as much about Blake s work in this period as Michael Phillips and he uses his knowledge of the text, its context, and Blake s printing techniques to open up the question of what Blake thought he was doing with "The Marriage of Heaven and Hell." John Mee
--John Mee"

"A leading American Blake scholar once described the prospect of editing The Marriage of Heaven and Hell as 'a swamp filled with gators;' Michael Phillips has navigated his way with great skill through the problems of chronology, textual unity, technique, contemporary context and significance of Blake's strikingly witty, sardonic, quirky, cryptic product of his unique combination of text and illustration in his illuminated books. As well as the facsimile of Copy B, one of the earliest of the nine known copies of the book, there are twenty-one valuable supplementary color plates of comparable pages from other copies, including a full run of Plate 14 as it occurs in the nine copies produced between 1793 to the year of his death, 1827. The detailed commentary discusses both text and illustrations, and in the case of the illustrations is most helpfully accompanied by appropriate details from Blake's designs." -- Martin Butlin, editor of The Complete Paintings and Drawings of William Blake

--Martin Butlin

"This edition of one of Blake's most potent and provocative books will give great pleasure both to Blake enthusiasts and to those new to his work."

--Tracy Chevalier

"This is an excellent scholarly edition of one of Blake's most fascinating works, likely to become the defining text for generations to come. No one knows as much about Blake's work in this period as Michael Phillips and he uses his knowledge of the text, its context, and Blake's printing techniques to open up the question of what Blake thought he was doing with The Marriage of Heaven and Hell." --John Mee

--John Mee

About the Author:

Michael Phillips, formerly Reader in the Department of English and Related Literature, is now Honorary Fellow of the Centre for Eighteenth Century Studies, University of York. He has published extensively on Blake and was guest curator of major exhibitions of Blake held in London, New York, and Paris.

About this edition

• Publisher: Oxford University Press
• Publication date: 1975
• ISBN 10: 0192125885
• ISBN 13: 9780192125880
• Binding: Hardcover
• Number of pages: 82