
The Marriage of Heaven and Hell (Annotated)
Enriched Edition. (Illuminated Manuscript with the Original Illustrations of William Blake)By William BlakeLength2h 11m
About this audiobook
The Marriage of Heaven and Hell is William Blake's audacious prose-poetic manifesto, composed in illuminated plates between 1790 and 1793. Blending biblical parody, prophetic satire, aphorism, and visionary dialogue, it overturns conventional oppositions between good and evil, reason and energy, body and soul. Its "Proverbs of Hell" and infernal conversations place it within Romanticism's revolutionary ferment while also resisting every stable literary category. Blake, poet, engraver, painter, and religious dissenter, lived at the margins of late eighteenth-century London's artistic and political establishments. His hostility to institutional religion, rationalist moralism, and oppressive authority was sharpened by the age of the French Revolution and by his own intense visionary experiences. The work's fusion of text and image reflects his belief that imagination is not ornament but the deepest organ of truth. This book is essential for readers interested in Romantic literature, radical theology, visionary art, or the history of dissenting thought. It rewards slow reading: every proverb, inversion, and emblem presses the reader to question inherited moral certainties. Brief but inexhaustible, The Marriage of Heaven and Hell remains one of Blake's most provocative and liberating works.
This enriched edition has been carefully crafted to add value to your reading experience.
- A succinct Introduction situates the work's timeless appeal and themes.
- The Synopsis outlines the central plot, highlighting key developments without spoiling critical twists.
- A detailed Historical Context immerses you in the era's events and influences that shaped the writing.
- An Author Biography reveals milestones in the author's life, illuminating the personal insights behind the text.
- A thorough Analysis dissects symbols, motifs, and character arcs to unearth underlying meanings.
- Reflection questions prompt you to engage personally with the work's messages, connecting them to modern life.
- Hand‐picked Memorable Quotes shine a spotlight on moments of literary brilliance.
- Interactive footnotes clarify unusual references, historical allusions, and archaic phrases for an effortless, more informed read.
Audiobook details
GenrePoetry
Length2 hrs 11 mins
Narrated byListen with 1,000+ voices
FormateBook with Audio
Publish dateJul 10, 2013
LanguageEnglish
Table of contents
1The Marriage of Heaven and Hell (Annotated)
9A MEMORABLE FANCY
2Introduction
10PROVERBS OF HELL
3Synopsis
11PROVERBS OF HELL
4Historical Context
12A MEMORABLE FANCY
5Author Biography
13A SONG OF LIBERTY
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6The Marriage of Heaven and Hell (Illuminated Manuscript with the Original Illustrations of William Blake)
14Analysis
7THE ARGUMENT
15Reflection
8THE VOICE OF THE DEVIL
16Memorable Quotes