William Blake book: THE best book on his work & life

December 1, 2017 3:39 AM

I am looking for a gift for someone: a book on the work and life of William Blake. His illustrations and essays and poetry, perhaps with commentary from experts, and whatever else. A big, bold, beautiful book. Does it exist?
posted by 0bvious to Shopping (2 answers total)

Princeton University Press is responsible for the authoritative print editions of Blake's work; David Bindman's William Blake: The Complete Illuminated Books is based on that set. David V. Erdman's Complete Poetry and Prose of William Blake is the standard edition of the texts, but the Bindman is stronger on aesthetics. Amazon will let you preview the book to see if it meets requirements.
posted by thomas j wise at 5:36 AM on December 1, 2017 [2 favorites]

I consulted my personal Blake expert who recommends (exactly the same as what thomas j wise has already said) William Blake: The Complete Illuminated Books, but says that the Erdman-edited Complete Poetry and Prose of William Blake is the most complete. There is an illustrated version of the Erdman book, but alas the plates are only reproduced in black and white.
posted by S'Tella Fabula at 2:54 PM on December 1, 2017