Description
Book SynopsisIn this innovative study, Jesse challenges the prevailing view of Blake as an antinomian and describes him as a theological moderate who defended an evangelical faith akin to the Methodism of John Wesley. She arrives at this conclusion by contextualizing Blake's works not only within Methodism, but in relation to other religious groups he addressed in his art, including the Established Church, deism, and radical religions. Further, she analyzes his works by sorting out the theological road signs he directed to each audience. This approach reveals Blake engaging each faction through its most prized beliefs, manipulating its own doctrines through visual and verbal guide-posts designed to communicate specifically with that group. She argues that, once we collate Blake's messages to his intended audiencessounding radical to the conservatives and conservative to the radicalswe find him advocating a system that would have been recognized by his contemporaries as Wesleyan in orientation. This
Trade Review[T]his is an interesting and provocative book…. Jesse has opened up important and unexpected areas of inquiry that are likely to yield a greater understanding of Blake’s polyphonic work in a heterogeneous religious milieu. * Blake/An Illustrated Quarterly *
Jennifer Jesse has written an accessible introduction to William Blake. It encompasses an admirable assembly of critical learning and acumen, assessing the achievement of several generations of Blake scholars. The book will be a reference point for all those seeking a profound consideration of issues related to Blake’s work and its contexts. -- Robert W. Rix, assistant professor, Department of Culture and Global Studies, University of Aalborg
Table of ContentsPart One: Introduction 1. The Problem of Blake’s Religion 2. The “rough basement”: Foundational Issues 3. Urizen and Los: Diagnostic Tropes for Theological Therapy Part Two: Reason as Definitive of Religion 4. Blake and Natural Religion 5. Rationalist Road Signs: The Bible and Creation 6. Blake and the Established Church 7. Anglican Road Signs: Christology and Atonement Part Three: Reason as Destructive of Religion 8. Blake and the Religious Radicals 9. Radical Road Signs: Sin and the Last Judgment Part Four: Reason as Redemptive of Religion 10. Blake and the Religious Moderates 11. Methodist Road Signs: Justification and Sanctification Part Five: Reading Blake Theologically 12. All Religions Are One 13. Whose Madness?
