Showing results for "William" in Literary History & Criticism

Poet, artist, visionary and author of the unofficial English national anthem 'Jerusalem', William Blake is an archetypal misunderstood genius. In this radical new biography, we return to a world of riots, revolutions and radicals, discuss movements from the Levellers of the sixteenth century to the psychedelic counterculture of the 1960s, and explore the latest discoveries in neurobiology, quantum physics and comparative religion to look afresh at Blake's life and work—and, crucially, his mind. 

Explore the delightful chaos of childhood mischief and the boundless imagination that defines youth. This collection captures the spirit of adventure, the humor of unintended consequences, and the resilience of a young mind navigating the world. Each week, our podcast presents a new complete audiobook, offering a variety of stories that span different eras and styles, all connected by themes of youthful exuberance and the trials of growing up. Whether you're seeking laughter, nostalgia, or a glimpse into the past, this rotating series promises to engage and entertain. New books are added ...

Just William by Richmal Crompton is a classic children’s book introducing William Brown, a mischievous, clever, and often exasperating eleven-year-old boy. Always untidy, with his scruffy cap and unruly hair, William leads a gang called “The Outlaws” who frequently find themselves in comic predicaments. Determined to outwit adults and avoid boring responsibilities, William constantly dreams up wild schemes that rarely go as planned. His stubbornness, imagination, and disregard for authority often create chaos, yet his honesty and charm make him lovable. First published in 1922, the ...

First published in 1875, General William T. Sherman's memoir was one of the first from the Civil War and was offered to the public because, as Sherman wrote in his dedication, "no satisfactory history" of the war was yet available. Although Memoirs has been revised and corrected many times over the years, Sherman famously never changed the original text of his recollections.

From the preface written by Edith Wharton: Then I fell upon Futility. Some one said: “It's another new novel about Russia” –and every one of my eager feelers curled up in a tight knot of refusal. But . . . I read on, amused, moved, absorbed, till the tale and the journey ended together. This, it seems to me, is the most striking quality of Mr. Gerhardi's book: that he has (even in this, his first venture) enough of the true novelist's “objectivity” to focus the two so utterly alien races to whom he belongs almost equally, by birth and bringing-up – the English and the Russian – ...

Relativity can seem daunting, but this engaging audiobook breaks it down into simple terms. William F. Hudgings takes listeners on a journey through the core principles of Einstein's revolutionary theories. He uses everyday language to explain complex ideas, making them accessible to everyone. Discover how relativity reshapes our understanding of time, space, and gravity. Whether you're a student, a science enthusiast, or just curious about the universe, you'll find valuable insights that spark your imagination. This audiobook prioritizes clarity while providing definitions for any technical ...

Named a BOOK OF THE YEAR by The Times and Sunday Times, New Statesman, Spectator, Prospect, and New Yorker. ‘Undoubtedly Hoare’s masterpiece’ Olivia Laing ‘Queer in all senses of the word’ Neil Tennant ‘A life-changing book’ Robert Douglas Fairhurst, The Times ‘Fabulously...

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).

Shakespeare’s extraordinarily ordinary life condenses into a charming but brief biography in this arresting tale of love, loss and return. Beginning with the early departure to the final homecoming, Paul Menzer considers the wonder of Shakespeare’s story with the little facts we have about...

In the 200 years since Blake's death, the visionary artist, poet, and writer has become a household name, often beloved. Yet many struggle to comprehend his kaleidoscopic ideas; how they speak to human longings and the challenges of living in anxious times. Philosopher and psychotherapist Mark Vernon provides a fresh route into Blake, taking him at his word.

Longlisted for the 2014 Samuel Johnson Prize for Non-Fiction (now the Bailie Gifford) ‘A thrilling and complex book, enlarges our view of Homer … There’s something that hits the mark on every page’ Claire Tomalin, Books of the Year, New Statesman Where does Homer come from? And why does...

The visionary poet and painter William Blake is a constant presence throughout contemporary culture - from video games to novels, from sporting events to political rallies and from horror films to designer fashion. Although he died nearly 200 years ago, something about his work continues to haunt the 21st century. What is it about Blake that has so endured? In this illuminating essay, John Higgs takes us on a whirlwind tour to prove that far from being the mere New Age counterculture figure that many assume him to be, Blake is now more relevant than ever.

On his 44th birthday, Eric Newby sets out on an incredible journey: to travel the 1,200-mile length of India's holy river. In a misguided attempt to keep him out of trouble, Wanda, his lifelong travel companion and wife, is to be his fellow boatwoman. Their plan is to begin in the great plain of Hardwar and finish in the Bay of Bengal, but the journey almost immediately becomes markedly slower and more treacherous than either had imagined - running aground 63 times in the first six days.

LONGLISTED FOR THE 2015 SAMUEL JOHNSON PRIZE A magisterial life of Ted Hughes – identified recently as the only English poet since the First World War with a claim to true greatness and one of Britain’s most important writers – to be published on National Poetry Day by prize-winning...

In "AIDS: The Lost Voices," hosts William Hampson and Gloria take a profound look back at the often overlooked narratives of individuals affected by the AIDS crisis in the 80s and 90s.They navigate through the archives of British newspapers, shedding light on the lived experiences that were overshadowed by sensationalist headlines. Hampson, drawing from his own harrowing experiences as detailed in his book 'The Lost Boys of Soho', highlights the personal toll of the pandemic, revealing how stigma and fear shaped the lives of countless individuals within the gay community. Together, they aim to...

A Book of the Year in the Daily Telegraph and Economist LONGLISTED for the CWA ALCS Gold Dagger for Non-Fiction 2026 'This book reads like a spy novel' FINANICAL TIMES 'Entertaining and vivid' OBSERVER...

A Times and Sunday Times Best Book of 2020 ‘Radical Wordsworth deserves to take its place as the finest modern introduction to his work, life and impact’ Financial Times ‘Richly repays reading … It is hard to think of another poet who has changed our world so much’ Sunday Times A...

‘An absolute belter of a biography’ MARINA HYDE A Times Literary Non-Fiction Book of the Year 2022 An LA Times Best Book of the Year 2022 An intimate, revealing and profoundly moving biography of Jean Rhys, acclaimed author of Wide Sargasso Sea. An obsessive and troubled genius, Jean Rhys is...

'Fluent and witty . . . confident . . . highly readable' Kathryn Hughes, GUARDIAN 'Brilliant - so vivid and so sharp, fantastically clever and consistently fascinating' KATHERINE RUNDELL, author of Super-Infinite Was Shakespeare gay? The answer is both simpler and more complex than you might...

For centuries people have been tormented by one question above all – ‘If God is good and all-powerful, why does he allow his creatures to suffer pain?’ And what of the suffering of animals, who neither deserve pain nor can be improved by it? The greatest Christian thinker of our time sets...