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

The 1880 edition of Gilchrist's influential 1863 biography of William Blake, containing a selection of Blake's writings and paintings.The publication of this influential biography in 1863 challenged contemporary opinions of William Blake and revealed his talents as an artist and writer. Volume 2 contains a selection of Blakes poetry and prose and an annotated catalogue of his drawings and paintings.The publication of this influential biography in 1863 challenged contemporary opinions of William Blake and revealed his talents as an artist and writer. Volume 2 contains a selection of Blakes poetry and prose and an annotated catalogue of his drawings and paintings.Although today William Blake (17571827) 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to the attention of Victorian society by the inclusion of selected writings and artistic works, nearly all previously unpublished.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.