William Blake: The Complete Illuminated Books

by William Blake and David V. (annotated by) Blake, William/Erdman

Book Overview

In his Illuminated Books, William Blake combined text and imagery on a single page in a way that had not been done since the Middle Ages. For Blake, religion and politics, intellect and emotion, mind and body were both unified and in conflict with each other: his work is expressive of his personal mythology, and his methods of conveying it were integral to its meaning. There is no comparison with reading books such as Jerusalem, America, and Songs...

• Format: Paperback
• Language: English
• ISBN: B004RHUS8Q
• ISBN13: 9780500282458
• Release Date: April 2001
• Publisher: Thames & Hudson
• Length: 480 Pages
• Weight: 4.33 lbs.
• Dimensions: 1.3" x 8.3" x 11.8"

Customer Reviews

Art books should be in color.

When I received this book, I was surprised to see all the illustrations inside are in black and white! There was no mention of this is the description. It was very disappointing, and I got my money back.

the original illuminated books

This beautiful paperback volume consists of high quality reproductions of Blake's original illustrated books. It is an incredible bargain. The pictures are powerful and Blake intended the pictures and the texts to illumine each other. I've never disciplined myself to sit down and read the text from the engraved script; its not easy or natural since the print on many plates is small and faint; but it would be worth the effort. However, there is a type face version of all the poems in the back, to refer to when needed to make out a word. This is an essential book for anyone seeking to understand Blake's profound prophetic vision more deeply.

Both the words & vision of a prophetic soul on fire

While many people are familiar with William Blake's poetry, if only through the handful of commonly anthologized short poems from grade school & high school English classes, this is how his work was meant to be experienced: the poetry in union with the art, creating a vision far greater & more deeply moving than the sum of its already impressive parts. The words literally flow, twine, blossom in vivid & startling color, woven into the intricate, symbolic artwork. There aren't enough superlatives for this edition, which enables everyone to finally see & feel the Universe as Blake did: ablaze with power, wonder, beauty, horrors, and the godlike beings of the human psyche, titantic aspects transcending any neat, pre-packaged psychological or symbolic labels. For anyone wanting insight into the soul of Western civilization over the past few centuries, the soul in which we all struggle to find meaning & purpose now, this volume is absolutely essential. Most highly recommended!

The ultimate book!

William Blake has changed the way poetry and art interact. He believed that art and poetry will never be complete as long as they are presented one without the other. That's why he was an artist as much as he was a poet. By the way, his contemporaries did not acknowledge him as a poet! This book brings a rich and wonderful collection of his original works. And for those who do not like handwriting, there is a complete typed version of all the poems at the end of the book. Besides all that, what I really like about this book, and William in general, is his love for children. I firmly believe that he is the first children books' writer!!! What is a children book? A long poem divided in several illustrated pages. Buy yourself a copy, this book is worth a lot.

Beautiful and powerful

This book brings the words and images of Blake to brilliant life. The volume is gorgeous, and the colors extremely rich. Having read Blake's poetry in un-illuminated format before, I now am even more appreciative of the value of seeing the work as Blake originally intended. Blake is a marvelous poet and artist, and this collection of his illuminated work is a marvelous book.