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Penetrating commentary on the Job story as a numinous, archetypal event, and as a paradigm for conflicts of duty that can lead to enhanced consciousness.

With a new introduction by Michael Marqusee.

Blake's interpretation in words and pictures of the story of Job contains his most mature, concise and direct statement of the theme which is central to all his work, the spiritual and psychological development of a human life. He wrote of man's 'Fall into Division and his Resurrection to Unity'; and all his works have the purpose of illuminating the path which can lead from the state of 'Error' and inner conflict, into which all unavoidably fall, towards one of true vision, wholeness and inward peace. His perception of the nature of 'Error', or delusion, and of what must be faced if it is to be overcome, is conveyed, not only in rational terms, but also through images which touch the less rational levels of the mind, objectifying the conflicting forces which are at work. This makes it possible to think constructively about them and to uncover the delusions instead of simply being possessed by them. The emphasis is on his spiritual and psychological message and its direct relevance to the individual life rather than on 'Blake scholarship'; and that message points the way to a very positive philosophy of life, based on knowing and understanding, not on belief; it also gives a remarkably clear and unified view of the psychological patterns of life, arguably adding a new dimension to our understanding.

The artist and poet are clearly revealed in these reproductions of Blake's pencil drawings

In Showing of Love, Julia Bolton Holloway provides a complete translation of Julian of Norwich's ground-breaking text, opening windows of insight into her medieval world. As a female mystic and theologian who was uniquely recognized (in a time when most women were not) for her holiness, Julian of Norwich also came to be known as a catechist, prophet, and spiritual director. Showing of Love records her own healing encounter with divine love and has for many centuries been a source of healing and inspiration for others. Readers of Julian's work find her belief that God sits in our soul as a fair city to be of profound value. That city is every city, Mary its queen, Christ its king. Julian offers these layers in rich text and variant readings. Julian dedicated years of her life to shaping Showing of Love, at the end rewriting it to preserve it from censorship. The anchoress lived in St. Julian's churchyard in Norwich. Her text was saved from destruction by nuns in Brigittine and Benedictine convents, first in England, then in exile after the Reformation. Julian's writings were later published by the Benedictines in 1670. They reveal her strong links with Benedict that continue to have lasting value for readers today. Includes two-color ink on inside pages. Julia Bolton Holloway, PhD, is a vowed hermit living in Florence, Italy. She has published seventeen other works on important historical figures.

Although relatively obscure during his lifetime, William Blake has become one of the most popular English artists and writers, through poems such as “The Tyger” and “Jerusalem,” and images including The Ancient of Days. Less well-known is Blake’s radical religious and political temperament and that his visionary art was created to express a personal mythology that sought to recreate an entirely new approach to philosophy and art. This book examines both Blake’s visual and poetic work over his long career, from early engravings and poems to his final illustrations, to Dante and the Book of Job. Divine Images further explores Blake’s immense popular appeal and influence after his death, offering an inspirational look at a pioneering figure.