Blake and the Methodists

Blake and the Methodists explores the work of the poet and painter William Blake (1757-1827) within the context of Methodism – the largest 'dissenting' religious group during his lifetime – and contributes to ongoing critical debates surrounding Blake's religious affinities by suggesting that, contrary to previous thinking, Blake held sympathies with certain aspects of Methodism, particularly as it was preached by its founder-member, John Wesley. Farrell suggests that Blake's theology is essentially eclectic in combining different aspects of doctrine and practice from diverse religious and mystical traditions, and argues for a less radicalised perception of the writer's theological outlook than has previously been surmised by scholars.

Michael Farrell is an independent researcher and an alumnus of Corpus Christi College, University of Oxford, UK, where he completed his PhD. His research interests include William Blake and the cultures of religious dissent in the Eighteenth Century.

Acknowledgements
Bibliographical Note
List of Abbreviations
Introduction
1. Blake and Methodism in Context
2. The Moravians
3. Blake, Wesley and Theology
4. Literary Culture
5. Hymnody
6. Night Thoughts
7. Blake, Wesley and Milton
8. The New Birth
Conclusion Bibliography
Index