Introduction: To See the Worlds in a Grain of Sand – Blake and Reception

Erle, S. (2022) Introduction: To See the Worlds in a Grain of Sand – Blake and Reception. Blake: An Illustrated Quarterly. ISSN 0160-628X

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Abstract

William Blake’s influence on modern culture is undeniable. Blake in contrast to, for example, P. B. Shelley, Wordsworth or Byron has a huge presence in literature, art and music. Striking parallels and historical evidence for connections between Blake and his modern audiences have been identified and discussed, determining why Blake matters. From the discussions of synergies existing in the intellectual and emotional climate of Blake’s time and our own arise two questions, which this special issue on Blake’s reception in Europe endeavours to address: one, what of Blake (person and works) bridges the gulf of time, appears universal and directly relevant. Two, what happens to Blake, if works (texts and images) are separated and taken up by audiences that have ostensibly - apart from shared values originating in Western culture - little in common. The latter, which is about ownership, leads to a further question: if there are too many, idiosyncratic interpretations of Blake, does the real Blake get lost?

Item Type: Article
Additional Information: © 2021 University of Rochester. This is an author accepted manuscript of a paper subsequently published in Blake: An illustrated Quarterly. Uploaded in accordance with the publisher's self-archiving policy.
Divisions: School of Humanities
Depositing User: Dr Sibylle Erle
Date Deposited: 02 Dec 2021 13:59
Last Modified: 09 Feb 2022 09:40
URI: https://bgro.repository.guildhe.ac.uk/id/eprint/898

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