
The Song of Los (Illuminated Manuscript with the Original Illustrations of William Blake) (Annotated)
Enriched Edition. Prophetic Illuminated Poetry of Empire, Faith, and RevolutionBy William BlakeLength1h 36m
About this audiobook
The Song of Los is one of William Blake's prophetic illuminated books, extending the vast mythic architecture of his revolutionary imagination. Combining engraved text and image, it presents history, religion, empire, and human consciousness as interwoven spiritual dramas. Its compressed, visionary style—at once biblical, apocalyptic, and radically experimental—places it within the Romantic challenge to Enlightenment rationalism while also resisting conventional narrative form. In this edition, the original illustrations are essential, not decorative: image and word collaborate to produce Blake's distinctive symbolic intensity. William Blake, poet, engraver, painter, and dissenting visionary, wrote from the margins of late eighteenth-century Britain. His opposition to political tyranny, institutional religion, materialism, and imaginative repression shaped works such as The Song of Los. Trained as an artisan and steeped in the Bible, Milton, radical politics, and his own private mythology, Blake created illuminated printing as a means of uniting artistic craft with prophetic utterance. This book is recommended for readers of Romantic literature, visionary poetry, religious symbolism, and the history of illustrated books. Though demanding, it rewards attentive reading with a singular fusion of poetry, philosophy, and visual art.
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
Length1 hr 36 mins
Narrated byListen with 1,000+ voices
FormateBook with Audio
Publish dateJul 10, 2013
LanguageEnglish
Table of contents
1Introduction
7Africa
2Introduction
8Asia
3Synopsis
9Analysis
4Historical Context
10Reflection
5Author Biography
11Memorable Quotes
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6Plates