William Blake

William Blake (1757-1827) was not only a poet but also an artist and print-maker, and an important figure in the Romantic era. He published collections of poems and mystical books with and without illustrations and he also illustrated works by others. In his Great Writers Inspire collection, you can find a selection of his works as ebooks. A good starting point to learn more about Blake and his work is the podcast with Dr David Fallon, available both as audio and video. Dr Fallon explains how he finds that what makes Blake's work so extraordinary is that it "stages a struggle between the very modern desire to banish repressive superstitions and a more unfamiliar enthusiasm for the visionary powers of prophecy, myth and the imagination".