William Blake vs the World

In William Blake vs the World, author John Higgs crafts an intricate and engaging exploration of one of history’s most intriguing figures, William Blake. Best known as the poet behind ‘Jerusalem,’ which is often heralded as England's unofficial national anthem, Blake emerges as an archetypal misunderstood genius who defies simple categorisation. This book delves deep into his life, juxtaposing his remarkable art and poetry against the tumultuous backdrop of 18th century England, a period rife with riots, revolutions, and radical ideas.

The narrative takes readers through a variety of time periods and significant movements, linking the Levellers of the sixteenth century to the psychedelic counterculture of the 1960s. This broad historical scope provides a rich and multifaceted context for understanding Blake’s work, as well as his profound and often perplexing mind.

Higgs takes the reader on a series of wild detours into unfamiliar yet fascinating territory. He explores the latest discoveries in neurobiology, quantum physics, and comparative religion, all to offer fresh perspectives on Blake’s artistic and visionary achievements. This fusion of historical and modern science not only situates Blake within the complexities of his time but also demonstrates how his ideas and artworks continue to resonate today.

Throughout the book, Higgs accomplishes the remarkable feat of making Blake's bewildering eccentricities more relatable and comprehensible. He places Blake's most enigmatic and esoteric ideas into a framework that reveals their modern relevance, showing how they can offer insights into our own lives and times. In doing so, Higgs effectively argues that understanding Blake can help us better understand ourselves.

With its blend of historical narrative and contemporary analysis, William Blake vs the World is both a scholarly examination and a captivating adventure, ideal for both Blake enthusiasts and newcomers alike. Higgs’s writing is as rich and complex as his subject, making this biography a must-read for anyone interested in the intersection of art, history, and science.