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Blake (WILLIAM an English poet)

WILLIAM, an English poet and artist, born in London, Nov. 28, 1757; learned to draw; became a noted illustrator and engraver; had a printshop in WILLIAM BLAKE London; and exhibited at the Royal Academy. His imagination was strange, powerful, grotesque, and poetic; and his belief was that his poems and drawings were communications from the spirit world. His "Poetical Sketches" (London, 1783); "Songs of Innocence" (1789), and "Songs of Experience" (1794), contain pastoral and lyrical poems of great beauty. His "Prophetic Books," including "Book of Thel" (1789); "Marriage of Heaven and Hell" (1790); "Book of Urizen" (1794); "Book of Los" (1795); "Book of Ahania" (1795); "Jerusalem" (1804), and "Milton" (1804), are famous. His greatest artistic work is in "Illustrations to the Book of Job" (1826).

He died in London, Aug. 12, 1827.

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