William Blake: The Complete Illuminated Books
£28.90£33.30 (-13%)
In his ‘illuminated’ books, William Blake combined his handwritten text with his exuberant imagery on pages the like of which had not been seen since the great decorated books of the Middle Ages. To have Blake’s great prophetic poems – Jerusalem and Songs of Innocence and of Experience, for example – in cold letterpress bears no comparison to seeing and reading them in Blake’s own medium, with his sublime and exhilarating colours.
This edition, produced together with The William Blake Trust, contains all the pages of Blake’s twenty or so illuminated books reproduced in true size, an appendix with all Blake’s text set in type and an introduction by the noted Blake scholar, David Bindman.
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Additional information
| Publisher | Thames and Hudson Ltd, 1st edition (27 Nov. 2000) |
|---|---|
| Language | English |
| Paperback | 480 pages |
| ISBN-10 | 9780500282458 |
| ISBN-13 | 978-0500282458 |
| Dimensions | 21.08 x 3.81 x 29.72 cm |
by Mrs. M. Lambrou-whiting
Nice enough tome of William Blake works. Colour quality is out standing as is the paper quality so will last many years of page turning. I like that you are given 2 versions, the original way in which it was intended, as it helps you to visualise how Blake had seen things, but also a transcripted version as some of the text is difficult to make out in some of the smaller printed pictures/text. Some are the size of small postcards so I would probabley suggest investing in a magnifying glass. At 36 my eyesight it stil pretty good, but the magnifying glass might also help taking a closer look at some of the intricate detail. I look forward to taking in the artistic work of this book for many years to come.
Prompt delivery by seller.
by Adrian Bailey
Buy this. If you are interested in Literature, in liberalism, in freedom and liberty. Don’t buy a game, don’t buy food, don’t buy clothes BUY THIS. Honestly. If you read his works and take in his philosophy and works it will bring you so much enlightenment it’s just nuts.
The book is stunning. The quality is superb. I have it on display! It’s weighty but when I carry it with me I’m happy about the weight because it reminds me that I’m carrying the most amazing work of art I have ever had the pleasure to embrace with all my being with me.
If people used his Proverbs of Hell as a guide to life instead of other “bibles or sacred codes” the world would be a much fairer and happier place.
Remember – “Energy is Eternal Delight!”
GO BUY THIS, BUY IT BUY IT NOW!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
by Rozichix
The price was a problem for me, and I dithered for ages. Stupid I know. The cost of a train journey I was contemplating, Glasgow to Oban, for a day out.
This is a beautiful book and priceless, a life sustaining source of nourishment.
I didn’t go to Oban With this treasure I have no need to go anywhere.
by Mrs. M. Lambrou-whiting
Book delivered well packaged and was vacuumed wrapped so was in immaculate condition. Really pleased with the book. It’s quite hefty and great quality pictures. The text of his poetry is very small but it’s how it was printed originally and great to see his work as it was originally produced. It’s a beautiful book. I was worried as wanted a hard cover but even as a paperback the quality is good.
by Echo
Beautiful clear colour reproductions. The presentation is very attractive, offers a concise introduction and chronology of Blakes life and times (providing context) and offers directions for further reading. The book is well bound and comfortably coffee table size. An absolute bargain at the price makes this a fantastic purchase for anyone with a interest in William Blake. At this price we will be buying a second copy for the shelf as this likely to undergo a lot of use.
by Robin Thomson
This is a big heavy book but the images of the original writings of Blake being printed actual size it is very difficult to read. It would have been better to blow up the images and just inform the reader of their actual size. Even the it would be difficult read in parts. I sent the book back. I like to enjoy a book not struggle to read it even with a magnifier.
by Rod Tweedy
I’ve just bought a Kindle Fire HD and this was one of the first things I wanted to see and read on it. Blake’s illuminated works surely lend themselves perfectly to the digital age – to luminous high definition screens, combining text and image just as Blake did.
This edition is good. I initially thought the images were small, before realising that you can enlarge them on the page (press/hold lightly on the image, and select the ‘zoom’ option). They also work well with the ‘black screen’ option (settings – colour mode). Colours ideally could be richer, deeper – they have a rather ‘electronic’/digital feel to them (as you’d expect I guess), but this is a small price to pay for having access to virtually the whole of Blake’s visual and poetic life.
My only criticism is that line numbers would have been helpful – or even a chapter number/reminder – especially for Blake’s longer poems (instead of/as well as the “Loc” page number of the whole book – it’s hard to know where you are if you find yourself in the middle of Jerusalem, so to speak). But definitely recommended – until they bring out a version that really does justice to Blake’s imaginative depth and brilliance of colouration. Rather like the e-Book ‘Yellow Submarine’ some bright spark might one day produce a truly amazing version – one that utilizes the interactive features of e-readers to really open up Blake’s textual eternities, and readers’ imaginations.
by DJ Valentine
This collection is definitely complete, and for that reason worthwhile. But in the Kindle version the illustrations are very small and in black and white.