William Blake's wife once said of him: "I have very little of Mr. Blake's company; he is always in Paradise". This illustrated biography of the great English artist, poet and mystic brings us very much into Blake's company, presenting, often in the words of his contemporaries, everything that is known of his life and times. Though William Blake never traveled more than 60 miles from London, his was an intellectually complex life. Bentley (English, Univ. of Toronto) offers a comprehensive mapping of the life of both Blake and his wife, Catherine Boucher. Blake was born in 1757 and grew up in the language of radical religious dissent. His fundamentals of faith and growing genius impelled him to a life outside of popular political and social conventions. Enthusiastically exulting in the power of the spirit, Blake eventually created a new gospel of art that was otherworldly and essentially spiritual. Bentley traces Blake from his natal landscape, youth, marriage, and apprenticeship through to his later years as a working engraver, poet, and radical visionary. Bentley is academic and thorough, and this is more of a straight biography than an analysis. Readers will still want to read Northrop Frye's Fearful Symmetry (1947). With lovely illustrations and two comprehensive appendixes; for libraries committed to a full reference. Scott Hightower, Fordham Univ., New York Copyright 2001 Reed Business Information, Inc. "Affectionately and authoritatively renders the life of [Blake] Bentley evokes something of the whole man." -- Publisher's Weekly "[A] comprehensive mapping of the life of both Blake and his wife, Catherine Boucher." -- Scott Hightower, Library Journal A masterful monument. . .Illustrated profusely. . .The Stranger from Paradise succeeds in making Blake. . .more comprehensible in his own terms. -- Tom D'Evelyn, The Providence Sunday Journal Published for the Paul Mellon Centre for Studies in British Art G. E. Bentley, Jr. is emeritus professor of English at the University of Toronto.