The William Blake Companion

An invaluable companion to the life, work and enduring legacy of William Blake, publishing in the bicentenary of his death. William Blake is one of Britain’s best-loved poets and artists: a 'madman' visionary who was ignored and vilified during his lifetime, yet who is responsible for creating some of the country’s most iconic and lasting imagery. Written in a style that conveys something of Blake’s own lively character, this introductory guide offers a journey through one of the greatest minds of the last two hundred years, whose remarkable spirit has inspired the likes of Bob Dylan, Patti Smith and Allen Ginsberg. Fully illustrated with maps, artworks, ephemera and walking routes, The William Blake Companion shows us the places where Blake was born, baptized, lived, worked and died. It traces the artist’s story from St James’s Church in Piccadilly, where his baptismal plaque hangs, to Peckham Rye Park, where he held communion with angels, and finally to Central London’s Bunhill Fields, where his body still lies. Along the way, we will discover the stories behind his greatest works and hear tales of a fairy funeral, prophetic visions, parlays with supernatural beings, close calls with sedition and clashes with fellow painters.