Poet, painter, engraver and visionary, Blake's was a radical spirit fired by genius. Yet his life has remained an enigma.In this magnificent biography Peter Ackroyd discloses the true nature of William Blake's life and art.
| ||||||||||||||||||
Did you know you can trade in your old books for an Amazon.co.uk Gift Card to spend on the things you want? Visit the Books Trade-In Store for more details. Learn more. |
Book Description
Frequently Bought Together
Product details
Would you like to update product info or give feedback on images?
|
More About the Author
Discover books, learn about writers, and more.
Product Description
Review
Marvellous...deeply moving and radiant with detail... What makes Ackroyd so exceptional among biographers is the range and beauty of his knowledge.This is a book to go out and buy at once (Observer )
Exhilarating...has all the hypnotic power and psychological intensity of a dream-fiction (Daily Telegraph )
Glowing and engaged...will send many readers back to the poems enriched (John Carey Sunday Times )
Taut, lucid and intelligent...will surely stand as a classic of the genre (Harpers & Queen )
Exhilarating...has all the hypnotic power and psychological intensity of a dream-fiction (Daily Telegraph )
Glowing and engaged...will send many readers back to the poems enriched (John Carey Sunday Times )
Taut, lucid and intelligent...will surely stand as a classic of the genre (Harpers & Queen )
Book Description
'A marvellous work of the imagination...enthralling' Ruth Rendell
Inside This Book
(Learn More)
Sell a Digital Version of This Book in the Kindle Store
If you are a publisher or author and hold the digital rights to a book, you can sell a digital version of it in our Kindle Store.
Learn more
What Other Items Do Customers Buy After Viewing This Item?
Customer Reviews
Most Helpful Customer Reviews
47 of 48 people found the following review helpful
By A Customer
Format:Paperback
This is well worth a read. The reader may gain a greater insight into Blake from the events of his life, which are relayed in detail. And furthermore from Ackroyd's empathetic and even-handed treatment of Blake the man, who one feels, will always be more than the sum of his actions. Particularly good for those who only know Blake the poet rather than the painter, the illustrations and engravings are given lots of attention and there are quite a few pictures to view.
19 of 19 people found the following review helpful
By Rotgut
VINE™ VOICE
Format:Paperback
William Blake must present a unique challenge to a would-be biographer: It is not that nothing happend to the great poet and artist, on the contrary, he met and conversed with some of the greatest figures in history( Virgil, Milton, Harry Hotspur, Socrates,Jesus,etc etc)and witnessed extraordinary events(flocks of angels, spirits, God Himself etc etc) the problem is, of course that all this happened in Blake's internal world, his"real" life is much more mundane.
So, Blake's biographer has to decide whether to descibe his workaday life, as a printer and engraver, a flirtation with real grinding poverty or his mad world of visions and marvels, touched with genius.
Ackroyd, in this long and detailed life story, rightly strikes a balance, Blake's work and relationships are fully described and, as far as possible the visions and voices he experiences are given consideration; The great man's eccentricities are invariably excused as they obviously inspire his genius.
This biography is very strong while considering Blake's poetry, but rather more space is given to his artistic endeavours, particularly the various methods of engraving and/or painting he employed. Personally, I would have preferred more emphasis on the poetry, but clearly Blake is a giant in both fields.
Always sympathetic and admiring of its subject, the only real complaint I had with this absorbing book was that some of the colour plates were of Black and White work, while some of the Black and White illustrations were of colour pictures.
So, Blake's biographer has to decide whether to descibe his workaday life, as a printer and engraver, a flirtation with real grinding poverty or his mad world of visions and marvels, touched with genius.
Ackroyd, in this long and detailed life story, rightly strikes a balance, Blake's work and relationships are fully described and, as far as possible the visions and voices he experiences are given consideration; The great man's eccentricities are invariably excused as they obviously inspire his genius.
This biography is very strong while considering Blake's poetry, but rather more space is given to his artistic endeavours, particularly the various methods of engraving and/or painting he employed. Personally, I would have preferred more emphasis on the poetry, but clearly Blake is a giant in both fields.
Always sympathetic and admiring of its subject, the only real complaint I had with this absorbing book was that some of the colour plates were of Black and White work, while some of the Black and White illustrations were of colour pictures.
6 of 6 people found the following review helpful
Format:Paperback
Peter Ackroyd is clearly passionate about his subject matter, and for students of William Blake or those simply seeking further context for his poetry this is ideal. Accessible and not even faintly patronising; the text is comprehensive and coherent.
Would you like to see more reviews about this item?
›
Go to Amazon.com to see all 7 reviews
4.1 out of 5 stars
Were these reviews helpful?
Let us know
Most Recent Customer Reviews
3.0 out of 5 stars
Informative read.
Still working my way through this book, which is interesting and has some good plates of Blake's fantastic paintings. Read more
Published 24 days ago by loljo
3.0 out of 5 stars
Blake
An interesting book as you would expect from such a master of the written word. Blake is a book that you would have to go through more than a couple of times to get into the... Read more
Published 4 months ago by Mr. C. J. Perkins
5.0 out of 5 stars
Blake by Peter Ackroyd
As ever first class from Peter Ackroyd, why isn't he on the television more?His historic knowledge is unbeatable a pleasure to read
Published 4 months ago by john standley
3.0 out of 5 stars
Exciting
Peter Ackroyd has written a most exciting book about William Blake: the words clatter together like stones and it is possible to see Blake in the auction houses of London buying... Read more
Published 5 months ago by D. Smith
5.0 out of 5 stars
Very good
Ackroyd's knowledge of the period and people, passion for Blake and skill as a writer really bring this work to life. An excellent biography that is a joy to read.
Published 11 months ago by T. J. Walton
5.0 out of 5 stars
Good stuff
Second hand book, I guess the biggest risk is if pages are missing etc. But I'm a quarter of the way through and so far so great!
Published 13 months ago by Andy
1.0 out of 5 stars
blake, peter ackroyd
It is unfortunate that the paperback edition is poorly produced. This is a facsimile? The print quality is appalling. Read more
Published 13 months ago by diana hunt
5.0 out of 5 stars
So good!
I have been a massive Blake fan since I was 16, and yes, whilst that makes me sound like a dweeb with no life, I can also safely assure anyone who is interested in William Blake's... Read more
Published 15 months ago by Stephanopolisrose
2.0 out of 5 stars
Very disappointing print
I was so disappointed when this arrived. I found it almost impossible to read because of the very poor quality of the printing, in fact, I gave up after a few chapters as almost... Read more
Published 17 months ago by Jenny
5.0 out of 5 stars
Ackroyd's Blake
Ackroyd's "Blake" joins his "Dickens", "Chaucer" and "Thomas More" and I cannot think of two better and more interestingly matched characters than Blake and Ackroyd, both writers,... Read more
Published 20 months ago by RR Waller
Customer Discussions
|
This product's forum
Active discussions in related forums
Search Customer Discussions
|
Related forums
|
Listmania!
Look for similar items by category
- Books > Art, Architecture & Photography
- Books > Biography > Historical > 1701-1900
- Books > Biography > Historical > Britain > Georgian to Victorian: 1701-1900
- Books > Biography > Novelists, Poets & Playwrights > Poets
- Books > History > Britain & Ireland > Queen Anne, Georgian, Victorian 1701-1901
- Books > Poetry, Drama & Criticism > History & Criticism
Feedback
- Would you like to update product info or give feedback on images?
- I am the Author, and I want to comment on my book.
- I am the Publisher, and I want to comment on this book.
|
