William Blake

Arthur Symons welcomes listeners into a meticulously gathered portrait of the visionary poet‑artist William Blake, beginning with his own youthful fascination and the scholarly impulse that sparked this ambitious study. The first section weaves a concise narrative of Blake’s life, highlighting his radical imagination, personal trials, and the artistic circles that both celebrated and misunderstood him.

The book then opens its pages to a treasure trove of contemporary testimony: diary excerpts, letters, obituary notices, and even Blake’s horoscope, all reproduced exactly as they appeared. By presenting these primary sources alongside Symons’s thoughtful commentary, the work lets listeners hear Blake’s world directly from the voices of his friends, critics, and admirers, offering a vivid window into the man behind the myth.