Other Sorrows, Other Joys: The Marriage of Catherine Sophia Boucher and William Blake

If there are people who know less about William Blake than I did, I have not met them yet. However, I'm a bit more informed now, thanks to Warner's very insightful and intense novel, written primarily in the voice of Wm.'s wife, Kate. I found myself thinking as I read this that Janet Warner may have been channeling Kate Blake, I felt that much in the presence of this wonderful, caring and intelligent woman. It was such a perfect way (for me, anyway) to begin a study of Blake, who is such a towering and often obscure figure, and one so very singular as to make me nervous at times. But Kate's there, mob cap on her head, running the press beside William, considering finances when William can't be bothered. In Warner's telling, theirs seems a marriage of Air and Earth. I was saddened to learn that Janet Warner passed away last year, but was comforted at the thought of her being able to enjoy the satisfaction of having produced this fine and original work, in addition to all her other accomplishments. It is a wonderful book, she got what feels like just the right tone for Kate, and wove in all the things large and small, about her life and his, and theirs together. I am so glad I found this book.

The poet-prophet Blake casts such an intense blaze, it's all too easy to forget his wife Catherine, who stood beside him, supported & aided in his work, and provided a home & haven for his visions. This fine novel rectifies that omission, letting Catherine tell her own story in warm, sympathetic, but clear-eyed prose. She gives us a wonderfully detailed, day-by-day look at the world Blake moved in -- its politics, its fads, its intrigues. And she also makes us realize that being the wife of such a man is often no easy task! Yes, Blake was a truly remarkable figure ... but Catherine was no less remarkable, as the reader will certainly come to agree. For those who love Blake's work, it's a welcome addition to the Blake bookshelf. But even for those who know nothing about him, it's both an introduction to the man & an excellent novel about a unique marriage in its own right. Well worth seeking out!