The Poetical Works of William Blake: A New and Verbatim Text from the Manuscript Engraved and Letterpress Originals

The literary remains of William Blake fall into three broad and generally rec ized divisions, poetry, prose, and the prophetic books. The present work is a complete collection of Blake spoems, including all lyrical and metrical pieces scattered throughout his prose works and visionary writings. This edition furnishes readers with a new text, literally reproduced from the original manuscript, engraved, and printed sources. The primary object has been to recover and present Blake sown version of his poetry without the customary attempts at emendation. A part from the natural question whether most editors of Blake are competent to effect improvement in the works of a man of singular and individual genius, it may peihaps be pertinent to recall that no writer would have more strongly resented interference with his own mode of expression than he who held that every minute particular is holy and that no one can finish so high as the original inventor. Even if we assume, with one of these critics, that what he styles a disservice is done to the poet by reprinting his works without correction, there may still be some so curious as to desire to refer to his poems in the form which commended itself to their author. That such a restoration of text should be necessary at a Uin the case of a modem writer whose works have passed through many editions may seem to require explanation. The reasons. hc%j MrT r Ka nn fK# iiHV iri .(Typographical errors above are due to OCR software and don't occur in the book.)About the Publisher Forgotten Books is a publisher of historical writings, such as: Philosophy, Classics, Science, Religion, History, Folklore and Mythology.Forgotten Books' Classic Reprint Series utilizes the latest technology to regenerate facsimiles of historically important writings. Careful attention has been made to accurately preserve the original format of each page whilst digitally e