Showing results by author "Blake William" in All Categories

An anthology of over 60 classic love poems, read by some of our finest actors. Love has always been the supreme inspiration for poets, whether romantic or platonic, reciprocated or unrequited. This collection contains a range of the very best love poems, including Andrew Marvell's "To His Coy Mistress", Keats' "La Belle Dame Sans Merci" and Byron's "So We'll Go No More A-Roving" - as well as several sonnets from the master himself, William Shakespeare.

Throughout the long centuries of human history is the want, and the need, to share information, to exchange ideas and for that knowledge and experience, for curiosity and learning, to be the basis of a civil society. In literature the ambition is much narrower. In order to be known, to be popular, you had to be published. And for that people had to know you existed and your ideas worth reading. Obviously for most of humanity's time people couldn't read and texts couldn't be published in any great number.

William Collins Books and Decca Records are proud to present ARGO Classics, a historic catalogue of classic fiction read by some of the world’s most renowned voices. Originally released as vinyl records, these expertly abridged and remastered stories are now available to download for the first...

Wordsworth, Keats, Shelley, Blake, Coleridge, and Byron. The poets of the Romantic Period celebrated with readings by Sir Ralph Richardson, Christopher Hassall, Margaretta Scott, and Tyrone Power.

Milton: a Poem is an epic poem by William Blake, written and illustrated between 1804 and 1810. Its hero is John Milton, who returns from heaven and unites with Blake to explore the relationship between living writers and their predecessors. While on earth, Milton also unites with his feminine aspect, Ololon. The poem describes progress toward the apocalyptic union of living and dead, internal and external reality, and male and female. (Summary from Wikipedia).

Explore the duality of human experience through the lens of innocence and maturity in this thoughtfully curated podcast. Each episode presents a new complete audiobook that delves into the complexities of childhood wonder and the stark realities of adulthood. Listeners are invited to reflect on the contrasts between the naive joys of youth and the profound lessons learned through life's trials. This rotating collection features a diverse array of narratives that illuminate the journey from innocence to experience, encouraging personal introspection and broader understanding. With every episode...

Songs of Innocence and of Experience is a collection of 45 poems by English poet William Blake. "Songs of Innocence" is the first part of the collection and appeared in 1789 with engraved illustrations by Blake. The second part, "Songs of Experience", also illustrated, was added in 1794 when Blake published the whole under the full title of Songs of Innocence and Experience Showing the Two Contrary States of the Human Soul. 

In this volume we listen to the world through the eyes and words of the English Romantics. This very special poetical period is filled with the loving and tender verse of poets who still beguile us all with their beauty.

Nearly 100 of the most popular and loved poems in the English language, this collection is one of the most comprehensive anthologies of its kind available. It covers a remarkable range, from the striking vision of Blake and Shelley and the insights of Keats to lighter but equally memorable verse by Tennyson, Donne, and Edward Lear.

The English language has grown into the world’s pre-dominant spoken language, containing over one million words. Its sources are rich and diverse, having absorbed words from other cultures and times without hesitation. With such talents as Shakespeare, Keats, Shelley, Kipling, Blake, and many other classic poets using this most flexible language to render their thoughts and visions, it is no wonder that the beauty and reach of English entrances us.

Angels are undeniably associated with religion and more usually Christianity, Islam and Judaism. Often they are seen as supernatural beings, benevolent celestial intermediaries interposed between God, Heaven and humanity. Obviously there are complications, a fact that our classic poets through the centuries, including Alexander Pope, Edmund Spenser, Radclyffe Hall and Hafiz, use as they write verse to explain, to reveal and to help us understand exactly why Angels are so prevalent amongst our thoughts.

Songs of Innocence and of Experience pairs luminous, childlike wonder with sharp, unsettling truth. In the first half, innocence speaks through images of lambs, children, and quiet faith in a world that feels gentle and protected. In the second, that vision cracks open—revealing a darker reality shaped by poverty, authority, and human suffering. Through deceptively simple poems and unforgettable images, the collection explores how joy and cruelty, hope and corruption, innocence and knowledge all exist side by side.

With a dynamic spirit, these great English poets made a conscious return to nostalgia and spiritual depth. Each chose a different path, but they are united in a love of moods, impressions, scenes, stories, sights and sounds. In this collection of more than forty poems are some of the finest and most memorable works in the English language.

Dance with a lobster, telephone an elephant or knock on a moonlit door - this collection includes magical, macabre, dramatic, funny, bizarre, absurd, delightful, moving and charming poems by Lewis Carroll, A.A. Milne, Edward Lear, Hilaire Belloc, Kenneth Grahame and many others. Readers such as Anton Lesser, Simon Russell-Beale and Timothy West bring the lines beautifully to life and make this an ideal introduction to some of the best-loved children's poetry.

At the end of his life, William Blake (1757-1827) gave up hope of being widely understood, but the twentieth century brought to his work a new and intense interest and acclaim.

Explore the profound contrasts between innocence and experience in this captivating podcast, inspired by the thematic depth of "Songs of Innocence and Experience." Delve into the duality of human perception, where childhood embodies purity and joy, yet must navigate the complexities of a world marked by loss and disillusionment. Each episode features a new complete audiobook, offering a diverse array of voices and narratives that reflect the interplay between light and dark, joy and sorrow. This is not a single story but a series of unique explorations that invite listeners to reflect on their...

Embark on a profound journey through the spiritual landscapes that connect ancient wisdom to modern revelations in "Jerusalem to Revelations - A Quartet of Spiritual Explorations." This podcast invites listeners to traverse the intricate paths of the soul, exploring themes of death, rebirth, and ultimate salvation. Each episode features a new complete audiobook, presenting a rotating collection of works that delve into the transformative power of faith, the trials of the human experience, and the quest for divine union. From the mysticism of the Egyptian Book of the Dead to the allegorical ...

Immerse yourself in the profound duality of human experience as we explore the enduring themes found in the works of William Blake. This podcast delves into the contrasting realms of innocence and experience, inviting listeners to reflect on the joys of childhood and the complexities of adult life. Each episode features a new complete audiobook, showcasing a rich tapestry of poetry that captures the beauty of the natural world, the innocence of youth, and the harsh realities of existence. Through Blake's visionary lens, we navigate the interplay between light and dark, love and loss, and ...

Immerse yourself in a realm where the eternal dance between good and evil unfolds, as suggested by the provocative title. This podcast delves into the intricate interplay of light and darkness, exploring themes of morality, rebellion, and the human condition in a series of thought-provoking audiobooks. Each episode invites listeners to engage with the complexities of existence, challenging the boundaries of convention and authority while celebrating the chaotic spirit of revolution. With every episode featuring a new complete audiobook, this rotating collection offers a rich tapestry of ...

The epic poem Jerusalem was in Blake's own opinion his masterpiece. It is the last of the great prophetic books. Originally produced as an engraved book of 100 pages (only one copy of which was every fully finished in the colouring), the poem develops and unifies many of the themes Blake had been exploring in earlier works. It is a complex and powerful work, full of dramatic imagery and sublime poetry. You might think of it like a poetic version of a Wagner opera. The edition read here is the first printed version of the poem - which was impossibly hard to read in the original. This then was ...