Why read Songs of Innocence and of Experience?

Book cover of Songs of Innocence and of Experience

Book description

William Blake's Songs of Innocence and of Experience includes some of the visionary poet's finest and best-loved poems such as 'The Lamb', 'The Chimney-Sweeper' and 'The Tiger'.

Part of the Macmillan Collector's Library, a series of stunning, clothbound, pocket-sized classics with gold-foiled edges and ribbon markers. These beautiful books make…

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Why read it?

1 author picked Songs of Innocence and of Experience as one of their favorite books. Why do they recommend it?

Virginia Crow

Author

This book is like looking at the two mirrored sides of the soul. The beauty and simplicity of innocence against the calculated approach of experience. There is one poem in it, "The Little Black Boy", which is a beautiful look through a spectacular naivety at the issue of slavery and racism as it was in the late 18th Century. It features the line:

“When I from black and he from white cloud free.”

And this is where the title of my book came from.

From Virginia's list on The most inspirational books of the romantics.