Probably the most politically radical collection of poetry in the English language. In 'Songs of Innocence' Blake portrays humanity in an idyllic pastoral setting, full of naturalness and simplicity, but not immune from exploitation. In 'Songs of Experience' Blake portrays the world as it really is - full of social, economic, religious and sexual repression, managed by the institutions of the Church, the State, the monarchy and the rich. This edition re-prints the original final stanza of 'London' - which appears in Blake's notebook but which was left out of the original edition, because of its clear revolutionary meaning. If you enjoy this book, you might also be interested in Blake's 'Auguries of Innocence and Other Lyric Poems' - ISBN: 978-1495380877 - and Blake's 'Uncollected Lyric Poems and Epigrams' - ISBN: 978-1503216655.
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About the Author:
Largely unrecognized during his lifetime, William Blake was a visionary English poet, painter, and printmaker. His wide-ranging influence can be seen in genres from theology and literature to popular music and graphic novels.
From AudioFile:
Both the student and connoisseur of the classics will enjoy this series of inexpensive audiobooks, each of which includes a Dover-Thrift edition of the text. The newcomer to classic poetry and prose, in particular, may experience in their spoken form an awakening to the beauty and power of these literary masters. It's hard to imagine a better introduction to William Blake's poetry than stage actors Brian Murray's and Suzanne Toren's audio rendition of SONGS OF INNOCENCE AND EXPERIENCE. Their alternating readings of Songs of Innocence vibrate with the reverence of Blake's vision of childhood as paradise lost; in Songs of Experience one fully senses Blake's later disillusion. The two books provide counterpoint to each other, an effect enhanced by the use of male and female readers. (c)AudioFile, Portland, Maine
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