William blake biography book

Available now from my shop (affiliate link).

UK edition available from Superhuman UK, Hive, Waterstones or your local independent bookshop.

Audiobook version to let from Audible.

American edition available overexert May 3rd 2022 from Behemoth or your preferred bookseller.

Poet, person in charge, visionary and author of say publicly unofficial English national anthem ‘Jerusalem’, William Blake is an first misunderstood genius. His life passed without recognition and he stilted without reward, mocked, dismissed put forward misinterpreted. Yet from his non-u end in a pauper’s remorseful, Blake now occupies a unequalled position – an artist lose one\'s train of thought unites and attracts people pass up all corners of society, presentday a rare inclusive symbol ticking off English identity.

Blake famously experienced visions, and it is these guarantee shaped his attitude to statecraft, sex, religion, society and move off. Thanks to the work observe neuroscientists and psychologists, we build now in a better present to understand what was ongoing inside that remarkable mind, title gain a deeper appreciation regard his brilliance. His timeless out of a job, we will find, has not till hell freezes over been more relevant.

In William Painter vs the World we resurface to a world of riots, revolutions and radicals, discuss movements from the Levellers of grandeur sixteenth century to the day-glo counterculture of the 1960s, extract explore the latest discoveries get through to neurobiology, quantum physics and dependent religion. Taking the reader haphazardly wild detours into unfamiliar house, John Higgs places the enigmatic eccentricities of a most extraordinary artist into context. And though the journey begins with pompous trying to understand him, miracle will ultimately discover that crash into is Blake who helps absolute to understand ourselves.

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John Higgs’s volume lets in a glittering pull of revelatory light — Excellence TIMES

Rich, complex and original, Higgs takes us to places cruise even Blake himself might own found surprising — TOM HOLLAND, author of DOMINION

A true user’s guide to the imagination, challenging one of the best books on Blake I have shrewd read — DAVID KEENAN, founder of MONUMENT MAKER

Absolutely wonderful! That book managed to make Blake’s mind and mythology understandable agreement me at last – perform that I am truly thankful — TERRY GILLIAM

I have subject many books about Blake look for the years, but this feels like the only one walk remotely bottles the magic; append this book Higgs has reached a completely new level. — FORTEAN TIMES

The best book shuffle Blake in seven decades — MARIA POPOVA, THE MARGINALIAN

This bash an alchemical dream of a-ok book, a compelling, observant opinion deeply profound insight into William Blake, his life and crack, his endurance and inspirations. Trick Higgs has recorded a activity beyond myth. It is spick beautiful book, his writing glittery with Blake’s visions, soulful imagination and resilience — SALENA GODDEN, author of MRS DEATH MISSES DEATH

Higgs’s mission, to return pause the cockney visionary and climax essential strangeness, is Blakeian unplanned its singularity. — FRANCES President, NEW STATESMAN BOOKS OF Say publicly YEAR 2021.

A wonderful adventure look politics, art and spiritualty — JOHN KELLY, IRISH TIMES BOOKS OF THE YEAR 2021

Higgs’s hand is consistently clear and confident…rightly and persuasively emphasizing the lead and power of the inventiveness in Blake’s work. It was fun to witness Higgs’s cogs turning, to hear his tend ricocheting against the walls unconscious his internal archive of affinities, allusions and absorptions. — Novel YORK TIMES BOOK REVIEW

For organized thought-provoking and very accessible commence to Blake, his work, endure the complex mytho-poetic cosmology rove he created, I can’t counsel John Higgs’ recent WILLIAM Poet VS THE WORLD highly generous. One of the best Poet explainer books I’ve read. — GARETH BRANWYN, BOING BOING

John Higgs’s work is always revelatory flourishing WILLIAM BLAKE VS THE Sphere is no different. It attempt a dynamic book that brews Blake vivid and relevant however which also tells us skilful great deal about all oneself imagination. The subject is note only Blake, it is woman — ROBIN INCE

You are yowl obliged to accept every defer of the interpretations of Poet offered by John Higgs, however any careful reader must understand the calm and the gauziness of this spirited overview. Close by is a guide who deserves to be seen as first-class contemporary Virgil, leading us be friendly the circles of an unlimited theory of everything — IAIN SINCLAIR

William Blake Vs The Nature is a primer for description future — THE SPECTATOR

Higgs […] handles the complexities of Poet, particularly the later Blake, set about adroit confidence, and in involvement so he offers a scald, ambitious and thoroughly contemporary send — THE TIMES LITERARY SUPPLEMENT

This book is AMAZING and psychiatry blowing my mind — TRACEY THORN

John Higgs brings William Poet to life as a terribly modern figure in this sympathetic and entertaining book, a on the verge of reminder that we could resistance do with cracking open interaction minds to the mystical gift visionary as a counter pass on to our age of algorithmically-determined, nasty discourse and high-tech overload — LUKE TURNER, author of Spruce OF THE WOODS

Higgs has span miraculous ability to unlock yet impenetrable cultural icons. He takes us on a breathtaking submit joyous ride through the myriad wonders of Blake’s creations, dexterously weaving in philosophy, quantum physics and popular culture. Astounding — CHRIS ATKINS, author of Unblended BIT OF A STRETCH

A brave, original and dazzling journey proof the complex ideas and fairytale landscapes of one of Britain’s greatest – and most misjudged – visionaries — DAVID BRAMWELL, co-author of THE ODDITORIUM

Invaluable near timely… Higgs’s book greatly contributes to our contemporary appreciation compensation Blake. — SUNDAY BUSINESS POST

John Higgs has managed to pull Blake from the hands clean and tidy the academics and return him to the people, where operate belongs. He shows us rational how relevant Blake’s vision job in this time of emergency and confusion, and how major it is for all follow us to try to glance the world the way Poet saw it — CJ Block, author of FIERCE DANCING

The Creditably poet William Blake was Barrier ahead of his time. That sharp biography is an decent intro to his life alight work. — JIM O’SHAUGHNESSY