The Illuminated Blake: William Blake's Complete Illuminated Works with a Plate-by-Plate Commentary

Book Description

Monumental study, compiled and annotated by one of world's foremost Blake scholars, meticulously reproduces poet/artist's singular attempt to achieve the perfect union of painting and poetry. Erudite, penetrating analysis of such Blakean masterpieces as The Book of Thel, Songs of Innocence and of Experience, The Marriage of Heaven and Hell, The Song of Los, other works.

Customer Reviews:

black and white? dont buy it!.......2007-02-22

If you want to read Blake's poems, pick up a cheap paperback copy of his complete works. If you want to see his original vision as he created it in his masterful, splendid prints, get "The Complete Illuminated Works"- but NOT this edition! Referring to Blake's exceptional artwork, a commentator wrote, "people who think they know Blake's poetry are only getting half- or rather none- of the picture". This remains true if the picture has no color.

The more recent Thames & Hudson edition (2001) includes everything in here, but in color. It's more expensive but that is well worth it- like I said, if you're willing to spend extra money to have the art (when you could get everything he wrote for just a few bucks), you might as well spring for it as it WAS- in color! A slight drawback is you don't get David V. Erdman's plate-by-plate commentaries, which are considered by some to be essential. You do, however, get other info, and the prints are much nicer. A REAL Blake nut will have both. By the way- sometimes it's hard to read the poetry contained on the plates (in EITHER book, but especially this one), so you should get a regular text of the poems as well if you want to study them; an annotated text is even better.

The importance of color cannot be emphasized- abandon this out-of-date cheap version for the real deal, the 2001 Thames & Hudson edition.

Tries to describe the pictures, not the words.......2003-03-23

David W. Erdman has managed to describe the details in Blake's drawings, for William Blake's Complete Illuminated Works with a Plate-by-Plate Commentary, but the text which is the main feature of most of Blake's plates is sometimes faint, and occasionally unclear. Due to the comment in BLAKE AND SWEDENBORG, on the source of its subtitle, Opposition Is True Friendship, about plate 20 of Blake's MARRIAGE OF HEAVEN AND HELL, that:

"beneath this `reptile of the mind,' partially obscured by Blake's thick patina of watercolor pigments in several copies of this hand-painted book, is Blake's final comment on his battle with Swedenborg's angelic alter ego:

Opposition is true Friendship." (Harvey F. Bellin, BLAKE AND SWEDENBORG, p. 38).

The detail which is shown on page 38 of BLAKE AND SWEDENBORG looks more like "Opposition is True !"

Page 117 of Erdman's THE ILLUMINATED BLAKE has a copy of Plate 20, copy I, which hardly even shows the T of True, and a small detail from Copy E with the words "you whose works" just before the last line "are only Analytics," so the little extra squiggle that it provides might be a subliminal comment by Blake on those who think we have the power to explain anything. The drawing of the serpent is ambiguous enough that Erdman's comment, "In I the artist has carelessly colored the angular wave seen through the first loop as though it were part of the serpent's body," (p. 117) might be an indication that Blake intended to show a bit of the tail of the serpent close to the serpent's head, symbolic of logic biting its own tail, or arguments which are circular in nature. As a wave, it looks more like the serpent than the other waves, though the black and white illustrations in both books are not entirely clear, Erdman's book has better shades of gray.

Comparing plates of "The Divine Image," SONGS 18g on page 59 in Erdman's book, with the copy on page 88 of BLAKE AND SWEDENBORG, Erdman's is clearer, but page 88 of BLAKE AND SWEDENBORG also prints the words ("To Mercy, Pity, Peace and Love") alongside the illustration, so it is easier to read. Erdman's attempts to explain the figures make this plate more interesting, mentioning Lazarus? Adam? Eve? and Jacob's ladder.

There is a "Holy Thursday" from Innocence, SONGS 19I on page 60, and a "Holy Thursday" from Experience, SONGS 33I on page 75. The big disappointment is that "The Tyger," SONGS 42I on page 84 is so difficult to read. I thought that I might remember that poem, but hardly well enough to read it in this book.

The Illuminated Blake.......1999-12-18

The only possible complaints that one could have with this book are 1)there is no color reproduction and 2)it is a softcover. However these same factors contribute to the wonderfully low price as a hardcover, full-color reproduction would bring it into the price range of the Princeton Blake. I must make a reference to one of the other reviews and say that in contradiction to the reader from Portugal's review this edition DOES contain all the Illuminated works with the exception of the one page work The Laocoon which is not exactly one of the illuminated works. Erdman's commentary is excellent, as is to be expected from one of the three major Blake scholars of the twentieth century. This commentary makes the book a value even if one already owns the Princeton series.

Excellent book for handy research.......1999-07-01

I used this book for the illustrations in my thesis on Blake. Although they are not in color, the sharp, black lines of the drawings accentuate a side of Blake that is often overlooked. That being his obstinate adherence to the "True Style of Art. The Art of Invention Not of Imitation." The Art of the "straight & wirey bounding line." All of the illuminated books are included in this volume, with commentary on each plate. This is an excellent book for the burgeoning Blake scholar. In fact, I used this book to make a photocopy of plate 10 from America a Prophecy for the tatoo I had carved on my right arm. I had the tatoo artist add the color from the Princeton editions of the illuminated books, which are the very best copies of Blake available if you can afford them.

A Fantastic World of Gods and Fallen Angels.......1999-04-17

I think this is an excellent edition of Blake's work. Although the title says "William Blake's Complete Illuminated Works" I have to state here that there are many other, mostly unpublished, paintings and illuminated printings of Blake, but this book has all the most known of Blake's Works and some of the lesser known: All Religions are one, There is no Natural Religion, The Book of Thel, Songs of Innocence and Experience, The Marriage of Heaven and Hell, Visions of The Daughters of Albion, America a Prophecy, Europe a Prophecy, The Song of Los, The Book of Urizen, The Book of Ahania, The Book of Los, Milton a Poem, The gates of Paradise, Jerusalem the Emanation of the Giant Albion, On Homers Poetry and On Virgil, The Ghost of Abel, including some variants of some plates. Almost all of the plates are reproduced in the original size with extreme quality. I only regret that they are all black-and-white printings, because the fiery, vivid colours used by Blake make them even more fantastic than they seem in this book. Despite being quite unknown in Portugal I consider William Blake to be one of the greatest artists of all time. His writing is poetic, dream-like, speaking of mythical places with their pathetic gods, angels, gigantic eagles and serpents, and a beautiful Satan teaching knowdlege and poetry: a strange realm that is supposed to be an esoteric version of our own reality. Blake's age was a revolutionary turmoil in every way, just like our end of century, and we can see that in his powerful writing. There was a French revolution that forewarned of a new age and the fall from grace of the powerful ancient lords who ruled the people with an iron hand, the american colonies burst out of the chains of their European masters and new wonders of science marvelled the peoples. Blake sings violently of the strength of Freedom within every free spirit and despises those who believe in a God that made the world a sad, ghastly cage for men: that is Urizen, an old blind and selfish Tyrant-god, destined to fall at the end of Time, consumed in its own weaknesses and emptiness. Blake is an ancient bard singing of Nature's pleasures against the new religions stupid grimness. Only Joy and Happiness are Holy. Imagination is the souls' ultimate voice. What can I say of the paintings? In fact there is no separation between images and words, which intertwine themselves in an awesome mystical graphic story. His style is incredibly detailed: you will find very small drawings of eagles, beasts, lizards and men everywhere, chaising things, trying to reach each other or running in chaotic terror. I think this is the real stuff that dreams and nightmares are made of. No reason, no explaining, just pure unhuman sorcery drowning your mortal senses. In a certain way, Blake preceded surrealism, comics and even caricatures. David Erdman exibits great scholarship in explaining the symbolic meanings of the images and the strange gods and beings painted in the plates. Believe me, he comments every minor detail. But I think that for those like me who still don't know much about Blake's works, he could well have done a small chapter explainig the events and entities portrayed in Blake's stories in a more general view, instead of doing small, dispersed references to it. I also leave here an advise for other Blake entusiasts: the latest album of Bruce Dickinson (IronMaiden's former vocalist), "The Chemical Wedding" is one great album and is entirely inspired in Blake's work. Just listen to the magical music in your ears! Blake's ideology reaches deep into your mind, revealing men's strongest and deadliest desires. Man may be jailed within cells of iron or gold, but he is still free to dream. I pity those that forgot even how to dream, because for them Liberty is forever lost in the shadows of disbelief: "Those who restrain desire do so because theirs is weak enough to be restrained. The road of excels leads to the palace of wisdom.

Prudence is a rich ugly maid courted by Incapacity. No bird soars too high, if he soars with his own winges. Shame is Prides cloke. Prisons are built with stones of Law, Brothels with bricks of Religion. And all this Vegetable World appeared on my left Foot as a bright sandal formd immortal of precious stones & gold: I stooped down & bounded it on to walk forward thro' Eternity."

16th of April, 1999

Book Description

Since the earliest days of universities, students have told stories about their daily lives, often emphasizing extraordinary, surprising, and baffling events. Legends often dramatize certain hopes and fears, showing how stressful and exciting the college experience can be. From the stereotype of the absent minded professor to the adventures of spring break to the mysterious world of fraternities and sororities, campus legends have also become an important part of popular culture. This book provides a convenient, readable introduction to campus legends. While the volume focuses primarily on legends, it also explores rumors, pranks, rituals, and other related folklore types. The book begins with an overview of college and university folklore. This is followed by a discussion of particular types of legends and other folklore genres. The handbook then presents some 50 examples of college and university legends, including ghost stories, urban legends, food lore, drinking tales, murders and suicides, and many others. These examples are accompanied by brief comments. The book next surveys scholarship on campus folklore and discusses the place of college and university legends in films, television, literature, and popular culture. The volume cites numerous print and electronic resources.

Customer Reviews:

Refreshingly different and worthy of acquisition........2007-01-07

Students have told stories about their daily university lives and often created legends surrounding campus experiences: unique and intriguing is CAMPUS LEGENDS: A HANDBOOK, which surveys legends ranging from pure fantasy to theories of professor relationships, pranks, rituals and other folklore. While it may prove an unusual handbook for the general collection, any college-level collection strong in folktales will find it refreshingly different and worthy of acquisition.

Diane C. Donovan
California Bookwatch

Campus Legends: A Handbook (Greenwood Folklore Handbooks)

Average customer rating:

Campus Legends: A Handbook (Greenwood Folklore Handbooks)
Elizabeth Tucker
Manufacturer: Greenwood Press
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

Product Description

Looking for tips on how to teach a student who speaks only a little English or none at all? This quick and easy guide provides advice for preparing for a new student, assessing needs and abilities, communicating with a student's family, and more.

Customer Reviews:

For US students only!.......2007-07-08

I teach English to children in France and this book has very little content geared for my needs and not worth the $12 I spent. I love to teach with mini-books that I create myself, so I was drawn to the title. However, I found the ones offered here very dull, i.e. copying number words, rather than engaging their creativity by having them illustrate the number word. Other mini-books teach the Pledge of Allegiance, This Land is Your Land, and writing the alphabet - also not appropriate for my needs. But as someone who is always looking for appropriate clip art for my lessons, I agree with the other reviewers that the illustrations are appealing and helpful for teaching basic vocabulary, and can be used in many ways.

Excellent.......2006-03-10

I used this book to teach 2nd graders of an Elementary school in Mexico. They loved the activities!

Beginning ESL.......2005-09-14

Although this book is more for children, there are some pages I was able to use for my adult ESL course. There are some nice diagrams along with good ideas on how to begin a level one class.

Invaluable resourse.......2004-07-31

I recently taught ESL in China for a few weeks and found this book incredibly useful. Although marketed as being for grades 1-4, I found this book helpful for even high school students--it depends more on the level of language proficiency than anything else. For example, I used the "parts of the body" page to review what my students already knew, and then they filled in more complicated words such as thigh, shoulder, ankle, etc. The money page has very realistic drawings of the various coins, all of which were new to my students. The food pages were very helpful before moving on to more complicated lessons on ordering in a restaurant. A great book for a modest price!

Excellent for Young Learners!.......2003-04-27

As a teacher of young learners, I struggle to find resources that truly meet the needs of my students, most of whom are just beginning to read and write in English. This book, however, has proven to be a goldmine. Kids and parents alike love the make-and-take books, while I love the flexibility of each unit. I've used the simple drawings to make charts, flashcards, games, etc. to accompany thematic units and have even used a few of the worksheets to review basic concepts with older kids. I'm giving the book a four instead of a five because the unit topics are quite basic. Once students know colors, numbers, letters, shapes, body parts, basic food items, and basic school terminology, this book basically goes back on the shelf until you get your next room full of beginners. But if you teach young learners with limited language skills, this book is a must have.

Spanish All Talk Basic Language Course (4 Hour/4 Cds): Learn to Understand and Speak Spanish with Linguaphone Language Programs (All Talk) (All Talk)

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Spanish All Talk Basic Language Course (4 Hour/4 Cds): Learn to Understand and Speak Spanish with Linguaphone Language Programs (All Talk) (All Talk)
Linguaphone
Manufacturer: Linguaphone
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Audio CD

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Spanish for Dummies

ASIN: 0747309515

Product Description

On-the-go Instrction Because your time is valuable... All Audio All on the go! Beginning level instruction is presented in an all-audio format on 4 digitally-recorded CDs. You have the opportunity to learn on the go, taking advantage of time normally wasted. Study in your car, while exercising, doing yard work anywhere you can safely listen to a CD player. No accompanying books are needed to help you complete the lesson activities. Why can t learning be fun? It can! Linguaphone has chosen to present the allTalk series in an entertaining, soap-opera format. No dry old teacher with a monotone voice putting you to sleep, you follow the adventures of a visitor to a Spanish-speaking country as she interacts with individuals in a variety of interesting situations, learning the language and beginning to understand the culture. Actually learn the language Tired of spending money on language courses that don t work? Did you ever think the problem could be with the course and not you? With Linguaphone s unique learning sequence: Listen, Understand, Speak, you will find yourself actually using the language in no time at all! You are presented with a unit of the language, it is then broken down and explained to you, then you put it back together with greater understanding than just repeating what you may not have understood in the first place. . . . and learn it well! The all Talk methodology not only teaches well, but will have you speaking and understanding basic spoken Spanish in no time at all. Other popular all-audio courses require four times the cds, four times the money and four times the time to do what Linguaphone s allTalk Basic does with 4-one hour CDs.

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Easy English Vocabulary Games
Linda Schinke-Llano
Manufacturer: McGraw-Hill
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

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ASIN: 0844274151

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Over 65 games, including anagrams, hidden words, crossword puzzles, and scrambled sentences help users learn basic vocabulary skills. Includes answer key.

Easy Vocabulary Games for Beginning English Language Learners

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Easy Vocabulary Games for Beginning English Language Learners
Linda Schinke-Llano
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Spanish All Talk Complete Language Course (16 Hour/16 Cds): Learn to Understand and Speak Spanish with Linguaphone Language Programs (All Talk) (All Talk)

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Spanish All Talk Complete Language Course (16 Hour/16 Cds): Learn to Understand and Speak Spanish with Linguaphone Language Programs (All Talk) (All Talk)
John Foley
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Easy vocabulary games for beginning English language learners: Spirit duplicating masters

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Book Description

Mike Meyers--the industry’s leading A+ certification authority and instructor--delivers another edition of his #1, best-selling study guide. Covering all official objectives for CompTIA's A+ Certification this must-have reference contains essential material to prepare you for both the Core Hardware and Operating System Technologies exams. Plus, the bonus CD-ROM contains practice tests, hundreds of questions, and LearnKey(tm) video clips. Not only will this book help you pass the A+ certification exams, but it will also teach you how to be an expert hardware technician.

Customer Reviews:

Ok, but old.......2007-06-28

Good explanations of the basics, but ends with Win2K. Wish I had known, I would have bought a later edition.

Excellent book!.......2006-11-29

I orginally got this book as a gift when I was in 8th grade, 4 years after self taught myself how to build and repair computers. I read it through on and off. It filled in alot of holes within my knowledge. 2 years ago I took the A+ certification class(dual enrollment; highschoo/college) and used this book in the class since I couldnt afford to buy the new one. It proved very useful as I was actually doing better than anyone else in the class and everyone else was using the newest A+ book from some other company. When it came time for everyone to take the test, Only 2 out of 30 students passed both of them. I was one of them!

This book does a phenomenal job in covering the basic hardware aspect of computers. I scored in the uppper 800s on the exam out of a total 900 possible.

The software part was a bit dated and the information on NT based systems is abit lacking as I barely passed the software test with a 524 out of 900.

The results alone mean to me that this book is a very good guide for the A+ exam. However as times have changed I believe the 4th edition is now alittle dated to be used alone. If you plan to use this on the 2007 exam I recommend alot of hands on practice and work with Windows XP and Server 2003 aswell.

Overall I must say even if you do not plan to take the A+ test, I reccomend this book because its an easy read and provides alot of useful information. I for one will always keep this book.

Not very technical.......2004-11-12

This book does not go into the real technical issues.
If you're an advanced user and want to refresh then that's fine.

Textbook is dated, but it'll still help.......2004-07-31

To begin, let me just say that I recently took my A+ exams and passed using this as my primary study guide. However, it would be important to mention that my scores could have definitely been better. On hardware I got about a 590/900 & OS I got about a 560/900. Passing scores are currently 515 and 505 respectively.

I purchased this book after reading how so many other people loved this edition and loathed the 5th (newer) edition. Also, this book was the cheapest as I managed to find it for under 10 bucks. Once I got it, I blazed through it in a week, went through the Total Seminars practice tests & skimmed through A+ for Dummies to cover material not in the book, and then took the tests. There were quite a few questions on the exam that tested on topics that this book just didn't cover or cover as well. For example, fiber-optics, wireless standards, Windows XP, serial harddrives, and so on.

As far as how the book was written, I really enjoyed it. Mike's style is entertaining and the images he describes really stick in your head. I can still remember the picture of a MCC spraying RAM with a gardenhose to "refresh" them. One complaint I do have though is with the organization of chapters. The 2 chapters on Windows for example were each about 100 pages while the rest of the chapters were about 50 pages. Furthermore, it would have been more convenient to clearly separate the hardware and OS sections so that you can focus on either exam (the aforementioned Windows chapters are right in the middle!). There's also a couple of DOS chapters thrown in for good measure. Had this book been more up-to-date and organized, it would have easily gotten 5 stars. My advice though would be to go with something more recent if you can afford it.

I passed and this book helped a lot!.......2004-05-18

Even though I have been doing PC Support for the last 4 or 5 years, this year my employers decided I needed to be certified. I bought this book even though it was not the current edition it helped alot. It was a lot of reading but the author inserted some comic relief to help. I studied this book for two weeks and passed my certification tests. It doesn't go into Windows XP enough but it gives you a lot on DOS which believe it or not, I still have to deal with on a day-to-day basis. I would recommend this book to anyone getting started in the pc repair industry.

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