William Blake vs the World

William Blake vs the World
John Higgs
RRP:
NZ$ 27.99
Our Price:
NZ$ 22.39
Paperback
h196 x 128mm - 400pg
5 May 2022 UK
International import eta 7-19 days
9781474614368
Out Of Stock
Currently no stock in-store, stock is sourced to your order
' A glittering stream of revelatory light . . . Fascinating' THE TIMES' Rich, complex and original' TOM HOLLAND' One of the best books on Blake I have ever read' DAVID KEENAN' Absolutely wonderful!' TERRY GILLIAM' An alchemical dream of a book' SALENA GODDEN' Tells us a great deal about all human imagination' ROBIN INCE***Poet, artist, visionary and author of the unofficial English national anthem ' Jerusalem' , William Blake is an archetypal misunderstood genius. His life passed without recognition and he worked without reward, mocked, dismissed and misinterpreted. Yet from his ignoble end in a pauper' s grave, Blake now occupies a unique position as an artist who unites and attracts people from all corners of society, and a rare inclusive symbol of English identity. Blake famously experienced visions, and it is these that shaped his attitude to politics, sex, religion, society and art. Thanks to the work of neuroscientists and psychologists, we are now in a better position to understand what was happening inside that remarkable mind, and gain a deeper appreciation of his brilliance. His timeless work, we will find, has never been more relevant. In William Blake vs the World we return to a world of riots, revolutions and radicals, discuss movements from the Levellers of the sixteenth century to the psychedelic counterculture of the 1960s, and explore the latest discoveries in neurobiology, quantum physics and comparative religion. Taking the reader on wild detours into unfamiliar territory, John Higgs places the bewildering eccentricities of a most singular artist into context. And although the journey begins with us trying to understand him, we will ultimately discover that it is Blake who helps us to understand ourselves.
John Higgs' s book lets in a glittering stream of revelatory light . . . [he] has us wrestling with flow states and default mode networks, Newtonian world views, synaesthesia and Jungian shadows. Conventional expectations are ripped to shreds. Higgs' s prose has a diamond-hard clarity. He knows how to make us relate. Before long you will find you are examining yourself as much as you are examining Blake . . . Fascinating * THE TIMES * Rich, complex and original, Higgs takes us to places that even Blake himself might have found surprising -- TOM HOLLAND, author of DOMINION A true user' s guide to the imagination, and one of the best books on Blake I have ever read -- DAVID KEENAN, author of XSTABETH Absolutely wonderful! This book managed to make Blake' s mind and mythology understandable to me at last - for that I am truly grateful -- TERRY GILLIAM This is an alchemical dream of a book, a compelling, observant and deeply profound insight into William Blake, his life and work, his endurance and inspirations. John Higgs has recorded a life beyond myth. It is a beautiful book, his writing glittering with Blake' s visions, soulful creativity and resilience -- SALENA GODDEN, author of MRS DEATH MISSES DEATH John Higgs' s work is always revelatory and WILLIAM BLAKE VS THE WORLD is no different. It is a dynamic book that makes Blake vivid and relevant but which also tells us a great deal about all human imagination. The subject is not only Blake, it is ourselves -- ROBIN INCE John Higgs brings William Blake to life as a decidedly modern figure in this thoughtful and entertaining book, a timely reminder that we could all do with cracking open our minds to the mystical and visionary as a counter to our age of algorithmically-determined, bitter discourse and high-tech overload -- LUKE TURNER, author of OUT OF THE WOODS Higgs has a miraculous ability to unlock hitherto impenetrable cultural icons. He takes us on a breathtaking and joyous ride through the many wonders of Blake' s creations, expertly weaving in philosophy, quantum physics and popular culture. Astounding -- CHRIS ATKINS, author of A BIT OF A STRETCH A bold, original and dazzling journey through the complex ideas and mythological landscapes of one of Britain' s greatest - and most misunderstood - visionaries -- DAVID BRAMWELL, co-author of THE ODDITORIUM [Higgs' s] is a systematising imagination, able to harness disparate elements and find the patterns that animate them -- Melissa Harrison * FINANCIAL TIMES * John Higgs has managed to wrest Blake from the hands of the academics and return him to the people, where he belongs. He shows us just how relevant Blake' s vision is in this time of crisis and confusion, and how crucial it is for all of us to try to see the world the way Blake saw it -- CJ STONE, author of FIERCE DANCING Invaluable and timely . . . Higgs' s book greatly contributes to our contemporary appreciation of Blake * SUNDAY BUSINESS POST *
John Higgs is the author I HAVE AMERICA SURROUNDED, THE KLF, STRANGER THAN WE CAN IMAGINE, WATLING STREET, THE FUTURE STARTS HERE and WILLIAM BLAKE NOW. He lives in Brighton with his wife and their two children.
Status: Indent title, imported to order
ISBN-13: 9781474614368
Published: 5 May 2022
Published In: United Kingdom
Imprint: Weidenfeld & Nicolson
Publisher: Orion Publishing Co
Format: Paperback
Height: 196mm
Width: 128mm
Spine: 34mm
Weight: 280g
Pages: 400

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