Alexander Gilchrist; William Blake — Life of William Blake

London, Macmillan and Co, 1880. Cloth. The second and expanded edition of Alexander Gilchrist's illustrated biography on the life and work of William Blake. The second, expanded edition.Complete in two volumes.An insightful biography on the life and work of William Blake, by Alexander Gilchrist. The first volume is his biography, whereas Volume II contains a compilation of Blake's own writings. At the time of this publication Blake remain fairly obscure, with little known of his life.Blake was a Romantic poet and painter, a seminal figure of the era. He wrote prophetic works, though he was largely unrecognised during his lifetime.Volume I is illustrated with a frontispiece, twenty-three plates, and many in-text engravings.Volume II is illustrated with a frontispiece, twenty-three plates, and many in-text engravings.The illustrations are from Blake's own works, done in facsimile by W. J. Linton.Collated, complete.Gilchrist's biography remains a standard reference work on Blake, however he died before the work was published. The work was mostly finished upon his death, and was complete by his wife, Anne, with help from Dante Gabriel Rossetti, and William Michael Rossetti. In the original publisher's cloth binding. Externally, smart. Light bumping to the head and tail of the spines and to the extremities. Spines are a little faded. Light rubbing to the boards and spines, including to the gilt. A few minor marks to the cloth. Small chip to the front joint and front board of Volume II, and to the rear joint of Volume I. Bookseller's label to the rear paste down of Volume I. Internally, firmly bound. Pages are bright and clean with the occasional spot, mostly to the first and last few pages. Very Good . Ill.: William Blake. Very Good .