Life of William Blake

Life of William Blake is a landmark two-volume biography and collection published in 1863, documenting the work and life of the English artist and poet William Blake. The first volume presents Blake's biography while the second contains his poetry, prose, and artwork. Alexander Gilchrist spent years gathering first-hand accounts and materials for the biography but died before completing it in 1861. His widow Anne Gilchrist, along with Pre-Raphaelite figures Dante Gabriel Rossetti and William Michael Rossetti, finished the work for its publication. The book includes previously unpublished materials, rare artwork reproductions, and detailed accounts from Blake's contemporaries and friends. A second edition appeared in 1880 with additional content and revised transcriptions of Blake's writings. The work stands as a pivotal text that transformed Blake from an obscure figure into a recognized artistic genius, establishing many of the foundational interpretations of his art and poetry that influence Blake scholarship to this day.

Readers value this biography as the first comprehensive account of Blake's life, though modern audiences find the Victorian writing style dense and difficult. The book collects many primary sources and eyewitness accounts that would have otherwise been lost. Likes: - Detailed research and documentation of Blake's work - Inclusion of rare letters and personal accounts - Anne Gilchrist's contributions after her husband's death - Examination of Blake's artistic techniques Dislikes: - Verbose Victorian prose - Religious/moral overtones in author's commentary - Some factual errors about Blake's life - Too much focus on Blake's "madness" Ratings: Goodreads: 3.9/5 (124 ratings) Amazon: 4.2/5 (18 ratings) One reader noted: "Invaluable source material buried in flowery language." Another commented: "The biographical facts are sound but Gilchrist's interpretations feel dated and judgmental." Most reviews suggest reading modern Blake biographies first, using this as a supplementary historical source.

William Morris: A Life for Our Time by Fiona MacCarthy Chronicles the life of Pre-Raphaelite artist William Morris through primary sources and letters, examining his impact on Victorian art and social movements.

Samuel Palmer: A Biography by Raymond Lister Documents the life of Blake's artistic follower Samuel Palmer through manuscripts and paintings, revealing the direct influence of Blake on the Romantic movement.

The Life of John Ruskin by W.G. Collingwood Presents Ruskin's biography through his manuscripts and artwork, connecting his artistic theories to the Pre-Raphaelite circle and Victorian cultural movements.

Rossetti: His Life and Works by Evelyn Waugh Reconstructs Dante Gabriel Rossetti's life through letters and paintings, linking the Pre-Raphaelite movement to Blake's artistic legacy.

The Life and Letters of John Everett Millais by John Guille Millais Contains letters and first-hand accounts of Pre-Raphaelite painter Millais, documenting the Victorian art world's transformation through Blake's influence.

🔸 Alexander Gilchrist never completed the biography himself, dying of scarlet fever at age 33 while writing it. His wife Anne, along with Dante Gabriel Rossetti and William Michael Rossetti, finished and published the work. 🔸 The biography was the first to uncover Blake's now-famous quote "I must create a system or be enslaved by another man's," found in his marginalia and personal writings. 🔸 When this biography was published in 1863, William Blake's original watercolors were selling for just a few shillings. Today, individual Blake works can fetch millions at auction. 🔸 The book contains the first published version of Blake's "The Tyger" with its original spelling and punctuation, sourced directly from Blake's handwritten manuscripts. 🔸 Anne Gilchrist, who completed the biography, later developed a passionate (though unrequited) romantic interest in Walt Whitman after reading "Leaves of Grass," partially due to her immersion in Blake's mystical worldview while finishing her husband's work.