FBF Philip Hoare: Celebrating William Blake

Weaving between the historical, cultural and personal, award-winning author Philip Hoare reveals how one visionary inspired 200 years of art, poetry, and protest…

In 1973, Derek Jarman set off from London to film the stones of Avebury. He was following in the footsteps of Paul Nash, who had photographed the ancient megaliths a generation before. Standing in that muddy field, by those stones, both artists had felt a direct connection to their hero – a man who had died a long, long time ago, yet who remained electrically alive to them.

In his latest book, an alluring and poetic odyssey, Philip Hoare traces the enduring legacy of William Blake and how he came to inspire so many creative lives. Reaching out of his past and into our future, Blake draws together the natural world and metaphysical realms, merging the human and the animal and the spiritual, firing up twentieth-century artists, filmmakers, poets, writers and musicians with his radical promise of absolute freedom.

In a stirring, and deeply felt talk, Philip Hoare brings Blake vividly to life and shows that art still has the power to create positive change.

“A joyful and dizzying romp through the stories of those who came under Blake’s posthumous spell” — Philip Marsden

“A life-changing book” — The Times, Book of the Week

“Undoubtedly Hoare’s masterpiece” — Olivia Laing

FBF Philip Hoare: Celebrating William Blake

Thursday 23rd October 7.00pm

Cost: £6/£7/£9

A £1 Poly Fund payment is added to each ticket sold. A 50p booking fee is also applied per ticket for online and telephone transactions.