Blake Thread

[Anonymous No.10411897]

How do I get into Blake? Recommend me something by this crazy fucker, he seems interesting.

[Anonymous No.10411912]

>>10411897
>reccomend me an author whose name I already know
Marriage of Heaven and Hell, if you ever ask a question like this, which could've been answered by doing research yourself, remember that every second wasted is a needle in the eye of your forebears and that you're also a massive brainlet

Seriously, you're really stupid.

[Anonymous No.10412022]

>>10411912
Well, if said author wasn't a infamous cryptic, confusing fucker you'd have a point. Also, this is a thread for those of you who already read him discuss. I always see him namedropped without anyone saying why they think he's great

[Anonymous No.10412032]

I've been waiting to read the Bible and Christian epic poems before intoing Blake. I've finished Paradise Lost and pertinent Bible areas, how much does Blake draw on Dante?

[Anonymous No.10413660]

>>10412032
>Have now another plain fact: Any man of mechanical talents may from the writings of Paracelsus or Jacob Behmen, produce ten thousand volumes of equal value with Swedenborg's and from those of Dante or Shakespeare, an infinite number. But when he has done this, let him not say that he knows better than his master, for he only holds a candle in sunshine.

[Anonymous No.10413705]

Blake is one of my favorites. It's sometimes hard to get good representations of both words and images depending on the publishing though.

Songs of Innocence and Experience is bomb af. Really, most of his illuminated books are worthwhile. Pick up some general art and poetry too.

[Anonymous No.10414156]

>>10413705
Any edition in special?

[Anonymous No.10414305]

>>10414156
Unfortunately, I have not encountered a perfect version which does justice to his vast literary and artistic output with high-quality bookbinding and reproductions. You can find some decent paperback color facsimiles of Songs of Innocence and Experience, Marriage and Heaven and Hell, Urizen, and his other books, however.

[Anonymous No.10414510]

>>10411897
It was helpful for me to start with his biography to understand the ways that his long childhood walks in the countryside informed his pastoral imagery and his concept of 'innocence'.

[Anonymous No.10414659]

>>10414305
There's some classics blogger that's suppose to come out with a heavily annotated "reader's edition" soon, explaining all the Bible references and Swedenborg stuff, but I forgot his name ;--;

[Anonymous No.10414723]

I'd recommend getting a copy of the illuminated poems. Reading them as he presented them with his own artwork.
Also Peter Ackroyds biography will give you some good background.

[Anonymous No.10414818]

>>10414723
Can you recommend any specific editions?

[Anonymous No.10414868]

>>10414818
I got this one from Thames and Hudson.
It was the best affordable paperback reproduction I could find. Oversize, heavyweight glossy thick pages. The poetry is reproduced in text alongside the original images, which are sometimes difficult to read.

[Anonymous No.10415956]

>>10412032
>Christian epic poems
other than the divine comedy, paradise lost and the knight things like orlando and arthur what else is there

[Anonymous No.10415970]

>>10415956
Pilgrims Progress
Jerusalem Delivered

[Anonymous No.10415973]

>>10414868
Nice I wish the Hardcover wasn't so expensive

[Anonymous No.10416151]

A few weeks ago some anon read this classic Blake poem really well:

https://vocaroo.com/i/s1QdWk3xOhE0

[Anonymous No.10416440]

bump

[Anonymous No.10416453]

>>10412032
Reading the Bible once won't help you much with the likes of Dante/Blake/Milton...really knowing it inside out will, but it would take years and you'd probably have to become a serious Christian. Jump straight in and and just take from it what you can

[Anonymous No.10416462]

>>10413660
>"..."
what did he mean by this

[Anonymous No.10417347]

burnk