Michael Phillips, formerly Reader in the Department of English and Related Literature, is now Honorary Fellow of the Centre for Eighteenth Century Studies, University of York. He has published extensively on Blake and was guest curator of major exhibitions of Blake held in London, New York, and Paris.
This is an excellent scholarly edition of one of Blake's most fascinating works, likely to become the defining text for generations to come. No one knows as much about Blake's work in this period as Michael Phillips and he uses his knowledge of the text, its context, and Blake's printing techniques to open up the question of what Blake thought he was doing with The Marriage of Heaven and Hell. Professor John Mee Phillips has navigated his way with great skill through the problems of chronology, textual unity, technique, contemporary context and significance of Blake's strikingly witty, sardonic, quirky, cryptic product of his unique combination of text and illustration in his illuminated books. Martin Butlin This edition to one of Blake's most potent and provocative books will give great pleasure both to Blake enthusiasts and to those new to his work. Tracy Chevalier