Synopses & Reviews
With rare exception, every major study of William Blake's life and arts includes at leads passing mention of the influences of Emanuel Swedenborg's theological writings. This anthology is intended as a comprehensive exploration of Emanuel Swedenborg's influences on the poetry, visual arts, ideas, and life of William Blake, examined from a spectrum of literary, art historical, philosophical, religious, and historical perspectives.
Included are essays by Blake scholar Kathleen Raine about Swedenborg's influence on Blake's poetry and descriptions of Blake's encounters with the Swedenborgian church (a fledgling organization in Blake's lifetime) by Raymond H. Deck, Robert Hindmarsh, and more.
Synopsis
This book contains a collection of essays that show Swedenborg's influence on William Blake.
Synopsis
With rare exception, every major study of William Blake's life and arts includes at leads passing mention of the influences of Emanuel Swedenborg's theological writings. This anthology is intended as a comprehensive exploration of Emanuel Swedenborg's influences on the poetry, visual arts, ideas, and life of William Blake, examined from a spectrum of literary, art historical, philosophical, religious, and historical perspectives.
About the Author
Emanuel Swedenborg (16881772), a truly remarkable visionary, began his career as a Swedish mining official and member of parliament and became well known throughout Europe as a scientist and prolific writer on scientific and philosophical subjects. After a series of profound religious experiences during midlife, he devoted the remaining twenty-seven years of his life to being a servant of the Lord@ and wrote energetically to communicate a spiritual vision of reality. Since then, the rigid theologies of the eighteenth century have steadily yielded, and the foresighted lucidity of his perspective has gained widening recognition. The fresh and contemporary appeal of Swedenborg's insights arises from the respect he showed for all religious faiths that stress a useful and loving life.