William Blake by G.K. Chesterton
G.K. Chesterton's book, Blake, is a biography of the English poet and artist William Blake. It covers his life, his works, and his influence on the world of literature and art. Chesterton examines Blake's life and works in detail, exploring his unique vision and his place in the history of English literature. He also looks at Blake's influence on other writers and artists, and his legacy in the world of literature and art. The book is an insightful and engaging look at one of the most important figures in English literature.
By G.K. Chesterton · First published 1936 · Genre: Biography, Literary Criticism, History · 29,160 words
First lines
WILLIAM BLAKE would have been the first to understand that the biography of anybody ought really to begin with the words, "In the beginning God created heaven and earth." If we were telling the story of Mr. Jones of Kentish Town, we should need all the centuries to explain it. We cannot comprehend even the name "Jones," until we have realised that its commonness is not the commonness of vulgar but of divine things; for its very commonness is an echo of the adoration of St John the Divine. The adjective "Kentish" is rather a mystery in that geographical connection; but the word Kentish is not so mysterious as the awful and impenetrable word "town." We shall have rent up the roots of prehistoric mankind and seen the last revolutions of modern society before we really know the meaning of the word "town." So every word we use comes to us coloured from all its adventures in history, every phase of which has made at least a faint alteration. The only right way of telling a story is to begin at the beginning--at the beginning of the world. Therefore all books have to be begun in the wrong way, for the sake of brevity. If Blake wrote the life of Blake it would not begin with any business about his birth or parentage.
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William Blake is listed on Textopian as a novel by G.K. Chesterton, dated 1936 CE.
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- Work type: Novel
- Author: G.K. Chesterton
- Date: 1936 CE
- Language: English
- Genres: Biography, Literary Criticism, History, Philosophy
- Length: 29,160 words
- Structure: 1 section, 826 paragraphs
- Reading fit: Standard (8th-9th Grade)
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Genres
- Biography — The book is a biography of the poet William Blake, written by G.K. Chesterton.
- Literary Criticism — The book provides an analysis of Blake's works and their influence on literature.
- History — The book provides an overview of Blake's life and the historical context in which he lived.
- Philosophy — The book examines Blake's philosophical views and their influence on his works.
Tags
poetry · Romanticism · art · philosophy · visionary · symbolism · imagination · spirituality · criticism · literary analysis · English literature · mysticism