The Marriage of Heaven and Hell

audiobook

The Marriage of Heaven and Hell

by William Blake

EN·~26 minutes·11 chapters

Chapters

11 total
1

THE MARRIAGE OF HEAVEN AND HELL

0:08
2

THE ARGUMENT

1:24
3

THE VOICE OF THE DEVIL

2:07
4

A MEMORABLE FANCY

0:49
5

PROVERBS OF HELL

4:57
6

A MEMORABLE FANCY

3:29
7

A MEMORABLE FANCY

2:12
8

A MEMORABLE FANCY

6:44
9

A MEMORABLE FANCY

2:01
10

A SONG OF LIBERTY

2:12

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.

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

2014-04-04

Rights

Public domain in the USA.

About the author

William Blake

William Blake

1757–1827

A visionary poet, painter, and printmaker whose work blends childlike lyric beauty with bold spiritual and political imagination. Once little understood in his own lifetime, he is now seen as one of the defining voices of English Romanticism.

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