The Marriage of Heaven and Hell

audiobook

The Marriage of Heaven and Hell

by William Blake

EN·~26 minutes·11 chapters

Chapters

11 total

THE MARRIAGE OF HEAVEN AND HELL

0:08

THE ARGUMENT

1:24

THE VOICE OF THE DEVIL

2:07

A MEMORABLE FANCY

0:49

PROVERBS OF HELL

4:57

A MEMORABLE FANCY

3:29

A MEMORABLE FANCY

2:12

A MEMORABLE FANCY

6:44

A MEMORABLE FANCY

2:01

A SONG OF LIBERTY

2:12
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Description

A vivid, poetic meditation unfolds as the speaker wanders through the molten landscapes of an imagined Hell, gathering the strange proverbs of its denizens. Blake’s language crackles with fiery imagery—roaring Rintrah, hungry clouds, and serpents that move in “mild humility”—while simultaneously probing the deeper currents that shape human consciousness. The work invites listeners to contemplate a universe where opposites are not enemies but the very engines of existence.

In this first act, the poet challenges familiar religious doctrines, arguing that energy and desire are the true life‑force, while reason remains a passive shadow. By juxtaposing heaven and hell as complementary aspects of the same reality, he offers a daring reinterpretation of good, evil, and the human soul. The result is a richly textured, thought‑provoking journey that mixes myth, philosophy, and vivid verse, promising an unforgettable listening experience.

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Details

Language

en

Duration

~26 minutes (25K characters)

Publisher of text edition

Project Gutenberg

Credits

Produced by eagkw, Dianna Adair and the Online Distributed Proofreading Team at http://www.pgdp.net (This file was produced from images generously made available by The Internet Archive)

Release date

Apr 4, 2014

Rights

Public domain in the USA.

About the author

William Blake

William Blake

1757–1827

Best known for pairing dazzling imagination with sharp moral vision, this English poet, painter, and printmaker created works that still feel bold and strange today. His songs, prophecies, and illuminated books helped make him one of the most original voices of the Romantic age.

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