Main content

William Blake's childhood

Nigel Planer delves into William Blake鈥檚 childhood to explore how his deeply religious and antiauthoritarian upbringing influenced his poetry. Blake's family were part of a breakaway religious group, called the Dissenters, who disagreed with the teachings of Church of England. But despite his objection to organised religion, Blake had a profound belief in God. He would spend hours devoutly reading the Bible, and its words had such an influence on the young Blake鈥檚 imagination, he claimed to have experienced a host of religious visions and voices.

Release date:

Duration:

3 minutes