Arthur Symons

William Blake (eBook, PDF)

• Format: PDF

Produktbeschreibung

William Blake (28 November 1757 – 12 August 1827) was an English poet, painter, and printmaker. Largely unrecognised during his lifetime, Blake is now considered a seminal figure in the history of the poetry and visual arts of the Romantic Age. What he called his prophetic works were said by 20th-century critic Northrop Frye to form "what is in proportion to its merits the least read body of poetry in the English language". His visual artistry led 21st-century critic Jonathan Jones to proclaim him "far and away the greatest artist Britain has ever produced". In 2002, Blake was placed at number 38 in the BBC's poll of the 100 Greatest Britons. While he lived in London his entire life, except for three years spent in Felpham, he produced a diverse and symbolically rich œuvre, which embraced the imagination as "the body of God" or "human existence itself".

Although Blake was considered mad by contemporaries for his idiosyncratic views, he is held in high regard by later critics for his expressiveness and creativity, and for the philosophical and mystical undercurrents within his work. His paintings and poetry have been characterised as part of the Romantic movement and as "Pre-Romantic". A committed Christian who was hostile to the Church of England (indeed, to almost all forms of organised religion), Blake was influenced by the ideals and ambitions of the French and American Revolutions. Though later he rejected many of these political beliefs, he maintained an amiable relationship with the political activist Thomas Paine; he was also influenced by thinkers such as Emanuel Swedenborg. Despite these known influences, the singularity of Blake's work makes him difficult to classify. The 19th-century scholar William Michael Rossetti characterised him as a "glorious luminary", and "a man not forestalled by predecessors, nor to be classed with contemporaries, nor to be replaced by known or readily surmisable successors".

Fascinating look a Blake's life by a man who is best described as a Dilettante who cares little for the opinions of others. However, to the detriment of this study, he spends a great deal of time presenting their ideas.

Symonds love of Blake and his pomposity shine from every page and serve to make this an enjoyable if flawed academic read.

Produktdetails

• Verlag: iOnlineShopping.com
• Erscheinungstermin: 12. Oktober 2019
• Englisch
• ISBN-13: 9788835303220
• Artikelnr.: 58944665

Autorenporträt

A British poet, writer, and critic Arthur Symons was a part of the Decadent and Symbolist movements in the late 19th and early 20th centuries. Born in Milford Haven, Wales, on February 28, 1865, Symons made a big impact on English literature with his avant-garde and well-respected works. After receiving his education in France, Symons attended the University of Oxford. His lyrical style was profoundly affected by his exposure to French Symbolist poetry, especially the poetry of Charles Baudelaire and Paul Verlaine. In English literature, Symons had a significant role in the introduction and popularization of Symbolist and Decadent concepts. His writings frequently explored the creations of modern authors and artists, furthering English-speaking readers' comprehension of European literature. As a representative of the Symbolist and Decadent movements, Arthur Symons leaves a lasting legacy. His literary criticism and poetry contributions are still researched and valued for their impact on modernist literature.