William Blake in Context
William Blake in Context
William Blake, poet and artist, is a figure often understood to have 'created his own system'. Combining close readings and detailed analysis of a range of Blake's work, from lyrical songs to later myth, from writing to visual art, this collection of thirty-eight lively and authoritative essays examines what Blake had in common with his contemporaries, the writers who influenced him, and those he influenced in turn. Chapters from an international team of leading scholars also attend to his wider contexts: material, formal, cultural, and historical, to enrich our understanding of, and engagement with, Blake's work. Accessibly written, incisive, and informed by original research, William Blake in Context enables readers to appreciate Blake anew, from both within and outside of his own idiom.
- Shows how William Blake's work across a range of media (e.g. engraving, painting, book illustration) sheds light on his better-known poetry
- Situates William Blake in the contexts he shared with his contemporaries, the writers who influenced him, and those he influenced in turn
- Contains close readings of Blake's work, from lyrical songs to later myth, from writing to visual art enrich our historical and cultural understanding of his output
Reviews & endorsements
'This volume will be valuable for both new and experienced readers and scholars of Blake … Recommended.' D. D. Schierenbeck, Choice
‘… William Blake in Context provides a massive amount of information about William Blake with multiple points of departure for further research.’ Roger Whitson, European Romantic Review
Product details
April 2019Hardback
9781107144910
392 pages
235 × 158 × 24 mm
0.78kg
20 b/w illus.
Available
Table of Contents
- Introduction Sarah Haggarty
- Part I. Life, Works, and Reception:
- 1. Life Leo Damrosch
- 2. Networks Jon Mee
- 3. Engraving Mark Crosby
- 4. Illuminated books David Worrall
- 5. Manuscripts Sarah Haggarty
- 6. Book illustration Luisa Calè
- 7. Painting Martin Myrone
- 8. Early reception Sibylle Erle and Keri Davies
- 9. Late reception Jason Whittaker
- 10. Editing and editions Morris Eaves
- Part II. Form, Genre, and Mode:
- 11. Comedy Fred Parker
- 12. Prophecy Ian Balfour
- 13. Rhythm Derek Attridge
- 14. Songs Steve Newman
- 15. Sound Michael Hurley
- 16. Sublimity David Baulch
- 17. System, myth, and symbol Tilottama Rajan
- Part III. Creative Cross-Currents:
- 18. The Bible Stephen Prickett
- 19. Chaucer, Spenser, and Shakespeare David Fuller
- 20. Milton G. A. Rosso
- 21. Eighteenth century and romanticism David Duff
- 22. Byron Jerome McGann
- 23. Pre-Raphaelites and aesthetes Elizabeth Helsinger
- 24. Yeats, Eliot, and Auden Edward Larrissy
- 25. Whitman, Crane, and the Beats Linda Freedman
- Part IV. History, Society, and Culture:
- 26. Animals Kurt Fosso
- 27. Antiquarianism Noah Heringman
- 28. Education and childhood Louise Joy
- 29. Empiricism Nicholas M. Williams
- 30. Life sciences Denise Gigante
- 31. London Saree Makdisi
- 32. Money Matthew Rowlinson
- 33. Moravianism Alexander Regier
- 34. Mysticism Laura Quinney
- 35. Nationalism and imperialism Julia M. Wright
- 36. Sex, sexuality, gender Susan Matthews
- 37. War and revolution Andrew Lincoln
- 38. (Without) sympathy Steven Goldsmith.
