Poems of William Blake (eBook)

William Blake (1757–1827), a seminal figure in the history of the poetry and visual arts of the Romantic Age, was an English poet, painter, and printmaker. Blake's work is characterized by its visionary quality and engagement with a wide range of social and political issues. His originality and poetic imagination have carved him a unique position in English literature. Best known for his collection 'Poems of William Blake', which includes some of his most famous works such as 'The Tyger', 'The Lamb', and 'The Chimney Sweeper', Blake's poetry is noted for its rhythmic subtlety and symbolic richness. His writings often ventured into the realms of mysticism and were inspired by his radical beliefs, which influenced his themes of criticizing the Church and the monarchy, advocating social and racial equality, and embracing sexual freedoms during a highly conservative era. Despite living in relative obscurity and being considered mad by contemporaries for his idiosyncratic views, modern critics hail his extensive mythopoetic universe and innovative visual language found in his both poetry and engravings. His prophetic works combined a profound spirituality with a call for revolutionary change, making him a preeminent precursor to later visionary poets and artists. Although his work was not widely acknowledged during his lifetime, posthumous acclaim grew rapidly in the 19th century, solidifying Blake's place as a central figure in English Romanticism.