Brenda Webster Novelist, critic, and translator

Blake, Sex and Women Revisited

July 22, 2008

The account of a female professor giving up her job and her man in order to live sexually free following Blake's vision of jealousyless relations between the sexes spurred me to write a piece for Macmillan's new Anthology Women Reading Blake. (posted for any Blake hounds among you).

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Matthew Biberman says:

fascinating stuff

Honestly, I had never waded deep enough into Blake to wrestle with this issue--this despite working with Bob Gleckner at Duke. I'll need to reread it before I attempt to say anything in response.

Wed, 07/23/2008 - 10:29am — Matthew Biberman

Brenda Webster says:

Blake, Sex and Women

I'll be curious to hear your reaction.

Wed, 07/23/2008 - 2:50pm — Brenda Webster

Belle Yang says:

Hi, Brenda--

I loved reading your analysis of Blake and have bookmarked the essay.  I've always been fascinated by the man's (and woman's--since his wife was his partner in the making of the prints).  Do you know where I might go to find a study about his wife and her role in his art?

Thu, 07/24/2008 - 7:25pm — Belle Yang

Brenda Webster says:

Blake, Sex and Women

Belle, thank you. I'm glad you liked my essay.

Sadly, I don't know of any studies of his wife's role in his print making. But it has been quite awhile since I've looked at the literature. There is very scanty evidence about even the facts of Blake's life since he didn't become famous really until after his death.

Tue, 08/19/2008 - 8:37am — Brenda Webster