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´How can the bird that is born for joy / Sit in a cage and sing?´

A selection of Blake´s most haunting verse, including ´The Songs of Innocence and Experience´.
One of 46 new books in the bestselling Little Black Classics series, to celebrate the first ever Penguin Classic in 1946. Each book gives readers a taste of the Classics´ huge range and diversity, with works from around the world and across the centuries - including fables, decadence, heartbreak, tall tales, satire, ghosts, battles and elephants.

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´How can the bird that is born for joy / Sit in a cage and sing?´

A selection of Blake´s most haunting verse, including ´The Songs of Innocence and Experience´.

One of 46 new books in the bestselling Little Black Classics series, to celebrate the first ever Penguin Classic in 1946. Each book gives readers a taste of the Classics´ huge range and diversity, with works from around the world and across the centuries - including fables, decadence, heartbreak, tall tales, satire, ghosts, battles and elephants.

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William Blake was born in Soho in 1757 and lived in London all of his life, with the exception of three years spent in Bognor Regis. In 1772 Blake became an apprentice engraver and went on to study at the Royal Academy, where he exhibited in 1780. Blake married Catherine Boucher in 1782 and the following year his first ´illuminated book´ Poetical Sketches was printed. Blake´s talents in both the visual arts and literature have made him a seminal figure of the Romantic period and he is regarded as one of Britain´s greatest poets. He died in 1827.

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