<h2>A lesser-known masterpiece by the visionary English romantic poet William Blake (<em>The Marriage of Heaven and Hell</em>; <em>Songs of Innocence and Experience</em>)!</h2><p>In comparison to Blake's later prophetic books <em>The Book of Thel</em> is relatively short and is easier to understand; this edition is entertainingly read by producer-narrator Jason Rosette.</p><p><strong>About the <em>Book of Thel</em></strong></p><p><em>The Book of Thel</em> was most likely composed between 1788 and 1790. Composed of 14-syllable lines this short poem was first published as a series of eight plates with illuminated text designed by Blake himself. Following an earlier lesser-known poem 'Tiriel' <em>The Book of Thel</em> suggests a romantic-visionary response to the timeless question regarding the acquisition of wisdom and knowledge. The poem became known as one of Blake's “Prophetic Books” for its existential interrogations.</p><p><strong>Summary</strong></p><p>The poem follows Thel a young shepherdess who wanders through a fantastical pastoral world called the Vales of Har yearning to understand her purpose. Primarily concerned with her own mortality various natural entities in her environment including a cloud and a clod of dirt offer her insights. The poem is significant for its animistic-natural representation of divinity and its direct handling of the question of existence.</p><p><strong>About the author</strong></p><p>William Blake (28 November 1757 - 12 August 1827) was an English poet painter and printmaker. Largely unrecognised during his lifetime Blake is now considered a seminal figure in the history of the poetry and visual arts of the Romantic Age. What he called his prophetic works were said by 20th-century critic Northrop Frye to form 'what is in proportion to its merits the least read body of poetry in the English language'.</p>
