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49th out of 168 books
—
26 voters
Blake
Born in 1757, the son of a London hosier was William Blake -- poet, painter, and engraver -- possessed one of the most original and fertile creative geniuses of his age. Yet his strange aloofness and claims of supernatural visions caused many in his own time and since to doubt his sanity, and much of his astonishing poetry and visual art remains unfamiliar. Now, Peter Ackr...more
Paperback, 400 pages
Published
July 14th 1997
by Ballantine Books
(first published 1995)
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Jul 24, 2010
Elaine
rated it
5 of 5 stars
·
review of another edition
Recommends it for:
anyone with an interest in art and poetry
Amazing biography, excellently written. Since Blake was very open about his visions and conversations with the dead, Ackroyd is able to present his inner life as well as Blake's always evolving artistic creations. This is a biography of the man, his inner life, and how it impinges on his art, as well as Blake's religious and political views, and his theories of art and how all merged and influenced his amazing poetry and engravings. Blake himself innovated his art throughout his life, leaving an...more
Dry at times, but so seems any book by a lover of history read by someone with my attention span. Nonetheless, Ackroyd's tender and thorough account of Blake and his works provides much insight into the poet, painter, and engraver's complex mythology and environs. I didn't realize how common mysticism and radical forms of Christianity were in London during the 1700s and early 1800s. Understanding that the Bible was viewed very differently than it is now does much to reveal Blake's evolving ideas...more
I give this book three stars because I thought that the prose/style was difficult. That is, it was sometimes hard to discern meaning because the writing was sometimes too elliptical. For example, there were many references to Blake's cosmology or mythology of the universe, but never a basic outline of it. (I do understand that it was likely an evolving project even for Blake.) Also, I was left to wonder why, in view of the life of Mr. Blake's imagination, Mr. Ackroyd in the book's last paragraph...more
If the business of biography is to make you wish you'd known the person described, then in the strictest sense Peter Ackroyd has failed entirely. The William Blake outlined here was so ferociously visionary that it is occasionally hard to understand how such a mind was able to occupy a puny human body for any length of time; imagination was not stored in the mind of William Blake, it was bursting out of it.
There are more serious flaws with 'Blake' - Ackroyd has a tendency to repeat his justifica...more
There are more serious flaws with 'Blake' - Ackroyd has a tendency to repeat his justifica...more
It took me several attempts, and a total of several years, to finish this book. But I read the last half or so in fairly short order, once I was retired. That last stretch was veryinteresting, Blake was a fascinating character and his story becomes more and more compelling as it unwinds in Ackroyd's telling. This bio is undoubtedly the major work on Blake in the last several decades, informed as it is by a thorough understanding and analysis of his art, as well as the details of his difficult li...more
Having known nothing of Blake other than the obvious, Jerusalem, and having a book of his amazing art I wished to know a lot more. I really enjoyed Peter Ackroyd's programme on London a few years ago so knew I would be in safe hands with him. I must confess the book has sat on my shelf for a few years asI was slightly deterred by the huge volume but I am very pleased that I bit the bullet and gave it a go.
It soon becomes apparent that Blake did not only reside in the world of mere mortals but a...more
It soon becomes apparent that Blake did not only reside in the world of mere mortals but a...more
The blurb on the cover of my edition of this book describes it as "a marvellous work of the imagination"... and biography or no, that's what Ackroyd does best. His non-fiction is always spattered with anecdotes and "what ifs" or "what may have happened".
However Ackroyd's brilliant style didn't really save this book from being quite dry and overly complicated. Which is odd considering it had very little to say. Blake wrote some amazing poetry. He also wrote some terrible poetry. He broke a few bo...more
However Ackroyd's brilliant style didn't really save this book from being quite dry and overly complicated. Which is odd considering it had very little to say. Blake wrote some amazing poetry. He also wrote some terrible poetry. He broke a few bo...more
Beautifully written, though as a biography it probably could have been better. It focuses more on his painting than on his poetry, which I suppose makes sense as there's already countless books on the role that Urizen and Los and whatnot play in Blake's cosmology. I've always been fascinated by William Blake; finding out just how bitter he was at his lack of commercial success was quite eye-opening for me- he was never, as I'd always though, content to be ignored in his own time, but was in fact...more
A good standard biography that clearly delineates the contours of Blake's life, work, personality and ways of being in the world. It is also a good example of why one must read multiple biographies of the same writer in order even to hope of gaining real insight into the inner lives of writers. Ackroyd focuses on Blake's art almost dismissing the personal mythology that his art illustrates. He doesn't ignore Blakes's poetry through which Blake expresses his mythology, but I sense that Ackroyd do...more
One of the blurbs on the front of this book by Ruth Rendell calls it a fine work of imagination,
and i get what she means.
This is a story of Blakes life in pretty much chronilogical order,
but and this is why it is so good,Ackroyd delves deep into Blakes wonderful imagination by sometimes using his own to speculate on Blakes motives and mindset.
Ackroyds amazing knowledge of London brings the characters of this wonderful book.
It is also very well illustrated.
and i get what she means.
This is a story of Blakes life in pretty much chronilogical order,
but and this is why it is so good,Ackroyd delves deep into Blakes wonderful imagination by sometimes using his own to speculate on Blakes motives and mindset.
Ackroyds amazing knowledge of London brings the characters of this wonderful book.
It is also very well illustrated.
A lot of artistic license taken with the source material, perhaps better read as Fiction than Biography, but then most of it bored me to tears.
I would have far rather read into his poems in more detail than his acquaintances (occasionally very loosely established) with various celebrities of the day. The sections on his printing methods were fascinating though.
I would have far rather read into his poems in more detail than his acquaintances (occasionally very loosely established) with various celebrities of the day. The sections on his printing methods were fascinating though.
A wonderful biography of one of my artistic heroes. Blake was unique in his combination of complete confidence in his vision and the humility of his existence. A person of strong moral character who never created much of anything for popular consumption.
A knowledgeable and readable account of the life, times, writing and psychological workings of William Blake. A fascinating study which provided me with a lot more information about Blake than I had had previously.
The 'dense' quality of atmosphere in this comprehensive volume made me feel like I was looking through a candlit chink into a dim, distant, weird and wonderful past that was the world of Blake. :)
I like Ackroyd a lot because he has one foot in the slipstream/high weird camp that I so love. Okay probably more than one foot as novels like English Music and Hawksmoor attest.
Ackroyd’s biography of Blake is a detailed look at Blake's life, linking his work, his art, his philosophy and his poetry together. Something I enjoy even more the second time through is the way this biography oftentimes seems like a tourist's guide to Blake's London. No surprise after his biography of London, but still...more
Ackroyd’s biography of Blake is a detailed look at Blake's life, linking his work, his art, his philosophy and his poetry together. Something I enjoy even more the second time through is the way this biography oftentimes seems like a tourist's guide to Blake's London. No surprise after his biography of London, but still...more
Feb 11, 2013
Karen
added it
This is a fantastic book on Blake. Ackroyd sensitively depicts Blake during his time with the literature and art he produced. Blake was not only a visionary but also timely.
Blake's life story is fascinating - misunderstood and unappreciated during his lifetime, Blake nevertheless held true to his artistic vision. A truly interesting man.
fascinating and surprising book about one of the most influential artists of ALL TIME, obscure and misunderstood in his lifetime.
Nov 26, 2010
Erik Graff
rated it
2 of 5 stars
·
review of another edition
Recommends it for:
Ackroyd fans
Recommended to Erik by:
no one
Shelves:
biography
I travel light: a small backpack with clothes, a satchel with books--one of which stays with my hosts as a gift and leaves me room to pick up another book to bring home.
Ackroyd's Blake accompanied me on the flight to the Bay and stayed with my host, Mike Miley. I read it enroute, finishing it soon after arrival. What I'd hoped for was some insight into Blake's visions. Did he really have them? If so, how come? Was he exaggerating? lying?--on all of these questions Ackroyd proved disappointing. I...more
Ackroyd's Blake accompanied me on the flight to the Bay and stayed with my host, Mike Miley. I read it enroute, finishing it soon after arrival. What I'd hoped for was some insight into Blake's visions. Did he really have them? If so, how come? Was he exaggerating? lying?--on all of these questions Ackroyd proved disappointing. I...more
Oct 02, 2010
Curta
marked it as to-read
existence of this book makes me happy. blake was a genious. look forward to read this one.
Nov 22, 2010
Julie Bozza
rated it
4 of 5 stars
·
review of another edition
Shelves:
literary-biography,
enlightenment-romantics
Very readable. A sympathetic though clear-eyed tale of an extraordinary person. Intriguing details of matters both large and small, creative and mundane.
A first-rate biography. Highly recommended!
FINALLY! Started it in JULY. While it is very well-written, meticulously researched and documented, and clearly a labour of love, my Gawd it is more than I needed or wanted to know. I was hoping for more focus on the poetry and art, and, while that is there, so is seemingly every move we can account for Blake having taken. Now I can read my other books in peace without the spectre of this being put up unfinished finally vanquished!
Sep 01, 2010
Mariya
marked it as to-read
NO
Nov 30, 2008
James
rated it
3 of 5 stars
·
review of another edition
Recommends it for:
Any Blake lover.
Very readable biography of Blake that almost becomes a novelization of Blake's life at points. One Blake scholar engaged in archival study of Blake's London residences told me he likes this bio because it gave him many good leads. I was annoyed with it for making confident assertions about unclear facets of Blake's life while providing no documentary evidence to support them.
I like Blake's art a lot, and don't know much about his writings except that they were "visionary" (translation: nutty). This is a dense, serious, but very interesting biography that tries to explain his writings, art, and thought processes, while acknowledging that much of it will always be mysterious. I liked Blake the person a lot, now.
Jan 28, 2010
Farren
added it
Lovely, lovely, but ran out of time and abandoned at almost exactly the halfway point. I love Ackroyd's writing style, which strikes me as informed without being informing, cheerful, and as fascinated with the world of the artist as he'd like the reader to be. I have a copy of his Canterbury Tales; I can't wait to take a crack at 'em.
Beautifully and sympathetically written, and giving an insight into the life and times of William Blake.
A bit of tough sailing. This is the book that put me onto reading literary biographies, or, at least, put me onto the idea of reading literary biographies. I left with the idea that Blake was brilliant and I a little bit dim for not really getting him.
perhaps i had always been expecting too much? somehow i felt more empty after having finished and lacking any deeper vision into blake and his work..maybe blake is the last person one should read a biography on!
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Peter Ackroyd CBE is an English novelist and biographer with a particular interest in the history and culture of London.
Peter Ackroyd's mother worked in the personnel department of an engineering firm, his father having left the family home when Ackroyd was a baby. He was reading newspapers by the age of 5 and, at 9, wrote a play about Guy Fawkes. Reputedly, he first realized he was gay at the age...more
More about Peter Ackroyd...
Peter Ackroyd's mother worked in the personnel department of an engineering firm, his father having left the family home when Ackroyd was a baby. He was reading newspapers by the age of 5 and, at 9, wrote a play about Guy Fawkes. Reputedly, he first realized he was gay at the age...more
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Sep 08, 2009 08:15am