Jerusalem (The Illuminated Books of William Blake, Volume 1)
The nature of William Blake's genius and of his art is most completely expressed in his Illuminated books. In order to give full and free expression to his vision Blake invented a method of printing that enabled him to create works in which words and images combine to form pages uniquely rich in content and beautiful in form. It is only through the pages as originally conceived and published by the poet himself that Blake's meaning can be fully experienced.
The publisher and the Blake Trust deserve thanks for making Blake's illuminated books of poetry widely available as they were originally published. These two volumes, to be joined by three others, will reproduce all the illustrated poems. Jerusalem is especially welcome, since no reasonably priced color version has ever been issued previously. Songs of Innocence and Experience has been reprinted inexpensively by others, but the Princeton edition offers an especially fine copy and includes 12 additional plates to show how Blake colored individual volumes differently. Even seasoned Blake scholars will benefit from the introduction and notes, which constantly draw the reader back to the poems for a closer reading. Editor Lincoln's annotations are especially full, explicating text, illustrations, and coloring and showing how much one misses when one encounters Blake in an unilluminated edition. Essential. - Joseph Rosenblum, Univ. of North Carolina at Greensboro
Jerusalem represents a publishing event. Because it was finished at the very end of his life, Blake colored only one copy; this is the first time a full-color reproduction is available to the general public.... Elaborate notes and commentary distinguish. --The Los Angeles Times Book Review
